Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and the USA have reached an agreement regarding military aircraft and helicopters that were transferred from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan in August 2021.

According to U.S. Ambassador to Tashkent, Jonathan Henick, in an interview with Kun.uz, the aircraft will remain in Uzbekistan, and this decision has been officially formalized.

He also clarified that the parties have already started implementing a joint program regarding this matter.

The Ambassador emphasized that the equipment has always belonged to the U.S.: "This equipment was never Afghan; it was American. They (the Afghan army) used it, but we were always the owners," Henick stated.

According to Afghan media, before the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, there were 164 combat aircraft, but currently only 81 remain. Some of the Afghan Air Force's aircraft and helicopters were transferred to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

In total, Uzbekistan received 22 military aircraft and 24 military helicopters, including Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, UH-60 Black Hawk, MD-530, and Mi-17 models.

Earlier reports indicated that the U.S. plans to repair six Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which ended up in Uzbekistan in August 2021, at a cost of US$64.2 million.