The Resurgence Of Afghanistan's Air Force: A Strategic Shift

Afghanistan does have an air force, but it has been in a state of flux since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021. The Taliban inherited a functioning air force, but one that was severely degraded. The Afghan Air Force was able to evacuate to neighbouring countries as the Taliban took control, and the Taliban has been working to rebuild the air force since.

The Taliban's efforts to rebuild the Afghan Air Force

In August 2021, the Taliban inherited a functioning, albeit severely degraded, air arm along with its pilots, technicians, logistical support and facilities. The Taliban's air force, officially the Islamic Emirate Air Force, is not the first military aviation service the movement has inherited and decided to maintain.

In November 2021, the Taliban announced the creation of the Air Force of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, also referred to as the Islamic Emirate Air Force and the Afghan Air Force. The Taliban's minister of defence, Mullah Yaqoob, has called on US-trained Afghan pilots to return to Afghanistan. However, only a few pilots have returned since the Taliban takeover.

The Taliban inherited more than 100 aircraft, most of which were inoperable. In August 2021, the Taliban were spotted flying ex-Afghan Air Force aircraft, including US-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The Taliban not only started operating airplanes and helicopters that they had captured intact, but they also managed to repair some damaged or stored machines. The Taliban's technicians have been seen repairing damaged machines at Kabul airport, and in June 2022, the spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence claimed that the IEAF had over 50 aircraft available.

However, the Taliban's air force has been involved in several accidents. In May 2022, two pilots were killed after their US-made helicopter crashed in the northern province of Samangan. This was the latest of at least five verified military aviation accidents recorded since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. While the Taliban has shown it can make use of helicopters and some leftover planes in response to humanitarian disasters or for show, it is seen as being far from recreating a functional air force capable of securing the skies in the event of foreign incursions or domestic insurgencies.

The Taliban's air force has yet to prove itself in combat. While the Taliban has utilized its planes and helicopters for transporting troops, military and humanitarian cargo, and regime officials, the actual deployment of combat aircraft remains unverified.

The escape of Afghan pilots and aircraft to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, a large number of Afghan Air Force pilots and crew members escaped to neighbouring countries. Around 140 pilots and crew members fled to Tajikistan, while others escaped to Uzbekistan. The escapees were housed in a sanatorium near Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, and at Termez Airport in Uzbekistan.

The escapees included U.S.-trained pilots, air-traffic controllers, and engineers. They flew across the Afghan border in 17 military aircraft, including 11 Cessna 208 Caravans, three AC-208 Combat Caravans, and three Pilatus PC-12s. In Uzbekistan, at least 46 aircraft were left at Termez Airport, including 22 fixed-wing types and 24 helicopters.

The escapees in Tajikistan were in limbo for three months, hoping the U.S. government would secure their freedom. They were eventually evacuated to the United Arab Emirates with the help of American authorities.

The Taliban demanded that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan return the pilots and the military aircraft to Afghanistan. However, the U.S. is negotiating with these countries to trade the aircraft for counterterrorism help in the region.

The amnesty scheme for former Afghan military pilots and ground crews

The amnesty scheme was an attempt by the Taliban to encourage pilots to return to their bases and serve the nation. However, many pilots were sceptical of the amnesty, with some choosing to remain in hiding or flee the country. There were also reports of revenge killings by the Taliban, further discouraging pilots from returning.

The Taliban inherited more than 100 aircraft, most of which were inoperable, when it returned to power. Technicians who remained in the country were seen repairing damaged aircraft at Kabul airport, and those pilots who sided with the Taliban continued flying the few aircraft that remained operational.

The amnesty scheme attracted more than 40 pilots and technicians to return and work for the Taliban's Defense Ministry. However, the Taliban has struggled to build a modern air force, with a lack of training for pilots and a need for strategies for communication and coordination with ground forces. There have been at least five verified military aviation accidents recorded since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, with pilot error considered the likely cause.

While the Taliban has been able to utilise helicopters and some planes for humanitarian disasters or for show, it is still far from recreating a functional air force. The amnesty scheme is part of the Taliban's efforts to rebuild the Afghan Air Force, but it continues to face challenges in doing so.

The Taliban's amnesty offer for Afghan Air Force personnel

The Taliban's amnesty offer to former Afghan Air Force personnel has been met with scepticism and fear, with many choosing to flee the country or go into hiding rather than trust the new regime. This article will explore the Taliban's efforts to rebuild the Afghan Air Force, the responses of Air Force personnel to the amnesty offer, and the challenges faced by those who chose to accept or refuse the offer.

The Taliban's Efforts to Rebuild the Afghan Air Force

Following the fall of Kabul in August 2021, the Taliban inherited a severely degraded Afghan Air Force. While they were able to capture some intact aircraft, much of the fleet was damaged or stored and required repairs. The Taliban also faced a shortage of qualified personnel, as many Afghan pilots and technicians fled the country or went into hiding. To address these issues, the Taliban proclaimed an amnesty for former Air Force personnel and encouraged them to return to their bases. They also began repairing damaged aircraft and sought to maintain those that were still operational.

Responses to the Amnesty Offer

Many former Afghan Air Force members feared retribution from the Taliban and chose to refuse the amnesty offer. Some went into hiding, while others fled the country. Those who refused the offer cited confirmed reports of retribution killings and disappearances as reasons for their decision. However, it is estimated that at least 4,300 former Air Force personnel, including 33 pilots, have joined the Taliban's nascent air force.

Challenges Faced by Those Who Accepted or Refused the Offer

Those who accepted the Taliban's amnesty offer faced the challenge of rebuilding an air force amidst equipment shortages and a lack of qualified personnel. Training new pilots and developing effective strategies for communication and coordination with ground forces were necessary steps towards creating a viable air force. On the other hand, those who refused the offer and chose to remain in Afghanistan faced the constant threat of persecution and violence. They had to make difficult decisions, such as whether to stay in the country and risk their lives or attempt to flee and leave their families behind.

The Taliban's acquisition of UH-60 Black Hawks, Mil Mi-24s, Mil Mi-8s/Mil Mi-17s, A-29 Super Tucanos, Cessna 208s, and C-130 Hercules

The Taliban acquired UH-60 Black Hawks, Mil Mi-24s, Mil Mi-8s/Mil Mi-17s, A-29 Super Tucanos, Cessna 208s, and C-130 Hercules from the Afghan Air Force.

The Taliban's acquisition of these aircraft was a result of the fall of Kabul and the collapse of the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its Afghan National Army in August 2021. The Taliban had previously run a small air force from 1996 to 2001, but it was disbanded after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001.

The Taliban's acquisition of these aircraft was not without challenges. The U.S. had attempted to prevent the Taliban from accessing these aircraft by sending a team of around 100 soldiers to locate and render inoperable all remaining Afghan military aircraft at Kabul International Airport. The team was not allowed to use explosives, so they used sledgehammers and similar tools. The team's leader later claimed that they managed to render several dozen aircraft inoperable.

Despite these efforts, the Taliban was able to acquire and repair several aircraft. In November 2021, the Taliban announced that they planned to re-establish the country's air force. Technicians were seen repairing damaged aircraft at Kabul airport, and pilots who sided with the Taliban continued flying the few aircraft that remained operational. The Taliban also proclaimed an amnesty for former air force personnel and encouraged them to return to their bases.

The Taliban's acquisition of these aircraft was not without controversy. In January 2022, the Taliban defense minister warned Uzbekistan and Tajikistan "not to test our patience and not to force us to take all possible retaliatory steps" to regain possession of the aircraft that had fled to those countries. The U.S. government had paid for the aircraft, and the U.S. was ultimately responsible for deciding what to do with them.

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