The United States has recovered seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that Afghan army pilots used to escape the Taliban in 2021. This is just a fraction of the vast stockpile of military equipment that Donald Trump has vowed to reclaim through diplomatic efforts.
This was reported by WP Tech.
Speaking at a Washington rally on the eve of his inauguration, Donald Trump made it clear that future U.S. financial aid to Afghanistan would be contingent on the return of American military assets abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal.
The Taliban responded, stating they had no intention of returning the equipment.
However, the U.S. has now managed to secure the return of several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. But how did this happen?
In this case, the recovery was less complicated, as the helicopters in question were not in Taliban hands. Instead, they had been flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan army pilots during their escape.
The Uzbek authorities, who maintain strong ties with Washington, agreed to return the helicopters despite Kabul’s request to have them sent back to Afghanistan.
"We have recovered the seven helicopters," a source at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent confirmed to AFP.
Earlier reports of the transfer were also published by Voice of America, citing sources within the Pentagon.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a versatile transport and infantry support helicopter capable of reaching speeds of almost 300 km/h and operating at altitudes of up to 6,000 meters. It can carry up to 11 fully equipped soldiers or 20 personnel without gear.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), satellite imagery suggests that more than 45 U.S. helicopters and planes—previously in service with the Afghan army—were evacuated to Uzbekistan in 2021. Their current condition remains unclear, but some Mi-17 helicopters have already been retrieved and sent to Ukraine.
However, the situation is different for the equipment left behind in Afghanistan, which is now in Taliban hands.
A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Defense revealed that American troops left behind military hardware worth up to $7 billion when withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration over the chaotic withdrawal, arguing that serious mistakes were made and that the exit strategy lacked proper planning.
