Trump's pledge: Recovering Black Hawks amid Taliban's hold
The United States managed to recover seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that Afghan army pilots used to flee the Taliban in 2021. This is merely a portion of the vast stockpile of equipment that Donald Trump has pledged to pursue through diplomatic channels.
At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, Donald Trump tied further financial aid to Afghanistan to the recovery of American military equipment abandoned in 2021 by Afghan and American forces and subsequently left in the hands of the Taliban. The Taliban swiftly responded by stating that they have no intention of returning the American equipment. Despite this assertion, the United States has successfully recovered several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. How was this achieved?
The United States retrieved seven Black Hawk helicopters from Afghanistan
In this instance, the task was significantly simplified as it involved seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which Afghan army pilots flew to neighbouring Uzbekistan. The authorities in Tashkent cooperated with the United States and positively responded to the request to return the helicopters. They decided to take this step, despite Kabul's demands that the helicopters be sent back to Afghanistan.
"We have recovered these seven helicopters," confirmed a source at the U.S. embassy in Tashkent to AFP. Previously, Voice of America reported on the transfer of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Uzbekistan to the United States, citing sources in the Pentagon.
The UH-60 Black Hawk is a versatile transport and infantry support helicopter capable of reaching speeds of nearly 300 km/h and operating at altitudes of up to about 6,100 metres. Besides the crew, it can accommodate up to 11 soldiers with full equipment (or 20 people without gear).
A high stakes game - equipment worth up to £5.6 billion
According to experts from the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), citing satellite images, over 45 American helicopters and aircraft (serving in the Afghan army at that time) were evacuated to Uzbekistan in 2021. It is unclear in what technical condition they are, but these are machines that the United States may consider repatriating (some Mi-17 helicopters have already been taken and handed over to Ukraine).
The situation differs with the equipment that remained in Afghanistan and is in the hands of the Taliban, who consider it their own. A report issued in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Defense indicated that American forces withdrawing from Afghanistan left military equipment worth up to about £5.6 billion in the country.
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Joe Biden's administration for the manner in which Americans withdrew from Afghanistan, stating that many mistakes were made and the actions were very chaotic.
