Taliban Seizes Chopper Gifted By India To Afghanistan, Takes Control Of Airport in Kunduz

The Taliban were seen on social media posing next to an Mi-24 attack helicopter, livemint reported.

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New Delhi: The Taliban has reportedly seized one of the four attack helicopters donated by India to Afghanistan in 2019.

This took place after the Taliban, as part of its offensive against Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s administration, overpowered the airport in Kunduz, which is located in the northern province.

The Taliban were seen on social media posing next to an Mi-24 attack helicopter, livemint reported.

India had gifted the four Mi-24V attack choppers to the Afghan Air Force along with three Cheetah Light Utility Helicopters.

The Mi-24V attack helicopter was among the four helicopters given in 2019 under a deal between Afghanistan and Belarus, but financed by India.

READ: India To Evacuate All Diplomats From Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif Amid Tensions With Taliban

Amid withdrawal of foreign troops, the Taliban fighters have captured eight provincial capitals.

The capture of the Indian chopper gifted to Afghanistan also comes at a time when the Afghan government has requested “robust air support” from New Delhi.

India has asked all Indian nationals to immediately return home before commercial air services are discontinued amid intense fighting between security forces and the Taliban across the war-torn country.

The Indian companies operating in Afghanistan have been issued advisory to immediately withdraw the Indian employees from project sites before air services get discontinued.

Significantly, India has already withdrawn its diplomats and staff from the consulate in Kandahar in view of the increasing violence in Afghanistan.