Taliban: It would be nice for neighboring countries to return our helicopters to us

Afghanistan's neighboring countries should return the helicopters on which Afghan officials and military personnel who served the former regime left in August 2021. This was stated by the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaki, Ariana News reports.

Speaking at a meeting in In Kabul with ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, Muttaki stressed the effectiveness of these helicopters, previously used in military operations, in saving lives during recent earthquakes. He stressed that the country, which is plagued by natural disasters, is in dire need of such equipment.

"We are appealing to these countries to return to the Afghan government the helicopters that were seized four years ago and are still there for use in rescue operations," he said.

Muttaki also called for the lifting of international banking sanctions against Afghanistan, stressing that these restrictions do not allow Afghan citizens abroad to send aid to earthquake victims.

"Unfortunately, due to the illegal and unfair sanctions imposed against Afghanistan, our citizens abroad were unable to provide assistance to their compatriots affected by the earthquake. Hindering the provision of assistance to victims of natural disasters is regrettable and contrary to all principles of humanism," he said.

The Foreign Minister noted that the Islamic Emirate has responded effectively to the recent earthquakes, and expressed gratitude to countries and international organizations for humanitarian assistance.

As EADaily reported, after the resumption of Taliban rule in August 2021, hundreds of Air Force personnel left Afghanistan, for whom the Taliban were actively hunting, since it was military aviation that inflicted the greatest damage on them. The pilots hijacked dozens of planes and helicopters from air bases in Kabul and Mazar-I-Sharif to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Later, with the mediation of the United States, the pilots of the former Afghan Air Force were taken out of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to third countries.