“Fake News”: Uzbekistan FM Denies Reports of Returning 57 Helicopters to Afghanistan

Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry has denied reports that it intends to hand over 57 helicopters to Afghanistan’s current authorities. The clarification followed claims published by Kabul Times, which cited Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying the aircraft would soon be delivered to Kabul.

«This is fake,» ministry spokesman Akhror Burkhanov told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The reports came against the backdrop of a long-standing dispute over Afghan aircraft that were flown to Uzbekistan by military pilots during the fall of the previous government three years ago. At that time, 46 units of aviation equipment, including transport helicopters and strike aircraft, were transferred across the border. Earlier this year, Tashkent returned seven of these aircraft to the United States.