Washington: About 450 Afghan Air Force pilots, who escaped the clutches of the Taliban last month and took refuge in Uzbekistan, are being flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The process is being carried out following an agreement reached between Uzbekistan and UAE. But no information has emerged about the transfer of Afghan Air Force planes and helicopters. A few weeks ago, the UAE also granted asylum to former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Hundreds of thousands of Afghan security personnel have gone missing since the Taliban took control of the capital, Kabul, a month ago. Hundreds of them were reported to have crossed the border into Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. There were videos of Afghan soldiers fleeing to Iran in the US-made Humvee military vehicles. Hundreds of Afghan Air Force pilots trained in the United States and carrying out airstrikes against the Taliban, as well as fighter jets and helicopters, are still missing. But according to a leading US newspaper, 450 Afghan pilots took refuge in Uzbekistan, along with 46 fighter jets and helicopters.
For the past few days, Afghan pilots have been living in refugee camps in Uzbekistan. The Taliban had demanded the extradition of the pilots and 46 aircraft to Uzbekistan. The Taliban claimed that they did not pose any threat to Afghan Defence Forces pilots and soldiers.
Afghan pilots played a crucial role in the deadly airstrikes on the Taliban a month ago. Therefore, if these pilots were handed over to the Taliban, it was certain that the terrorist organization would not leave these pilots alive. Uzbekistan rejected the Taliban’s demand, citing examples of brutal killings of Afghan pilots and soldiers by Taliban militants.
But now, Uzbekistan has begun the process of sending the 450 pilots and officials to the UAE. The process will be completed in the next few days, the US newspaper reported. Photographs of these pilots have also surfaced. But what about the fighter jets and helicopters that the Afghan pilots brought with them have not been clarified. However, Uzbekistan has sent a clear message to the Taliban and Taliban supporters by handing over Afghan pilots to the UAE.
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