US not willing to return Afghan military aircraft flown to Tajikistan

US Ambassador to Tajikistan John Mark Pommersheim said in Dushanbe this week that Washington does not plan to hand back the Afghan air force planes and helicopters flown to Tajikistan by Afghan pilots fleeing the country in August last year.

Addressing a press conference in Dushanbe on Tuesday, Pommersheim said:
“These aircraft will not be handed over to the Taliban (IEA) because they do not belong to them.”

The US diplomat refrained from giving further details of negotiations between Washington and Dushanbe regarding the aircraft, AsiaPlus reported.

Dozens of Afghan air force planes and helicopters were flown to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in August after the US-backed government collapsed.

The ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) authorities have repeatedly called for the aircraft to be returned.