Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in a statement on Wednesday that Uzbekistan has reportedly agreed to return 57 military helicopters to Afghanistan, which had been flown out of the country during the collapse of the former Republic in August 2021.

The helicopters, which were taken by fleeing Afghan military personnel at the time of the Republic’s fall, had remained on Uzbek soil over the past few years, Mujahid said, adding that their fate had been a subject of quiet negotiations between Kabul and Tashkent, with the IEA consistently requesting their return as part of broader efforts to reclaim national assets.

“The handover of 57 military helicopters is expected to take place in the near future, marking a significant step in restoring Afghanistan’s air capabilities and boosting ties between the two neighboring countries,” the spokesman hoped. 

Police Radio