Afghan Lawmakers Voice Alarm On Air Force As US Withdrawal Nears

Washington: Afghan Parliamentarians on Friday voiced the alarm that their air force was up before the Taliban offensive, when they asked the United States to complete assistance from troop withdrawals.
In this week’s virtual talks with the US Congress, the Afghan delegation said it appealed to fast action on aircraft and ammunition maintenance as President Joe Biden prepares to end the war the longest at the end of next month at the end of next month at the end of next month at the end Next month at the end of next month.

Biden raised this problem during a telephone conversation with his partner Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani on Friday, the White House said in a statement.

The US President stressed military support in Kabul countries, with expenditure for Afghanistan prioritized in the 2022 defense budget, currently being negotiated in Congress.

“The security situation is really terrible,” said Senior MP Afghanistan Haji Ajmal Rahmani, referring to the Taliban attack during virtual talks.

Rahmani said a third of the 150-strong fleet was based on maintenance problems.

He said the Afghans also ran out of laser guided ammunition, because the United States and NATO allies had handled 80 to 90 percent of weaponry and did not leave supply during the withdrawal of hasty air assets.

Laser guided munitions are very important to show the target and minimize civilian casualties, he said.

“The feedback is that it will take longer because they have to make an order and need time to produce and send to Afghanistan,” he told the Roundtain of the Department of Foreign Affairs Correspondent Association.

“They talk about a year, more or less, until it will reach Afghanistan. This is something that is very much needed at this critical moment.”

Mir Haider Afzaly, Chair of the Parliamentary Defense Committee, said the plane was based on lack of spare parts, Covid-19 concerns that secured US technicians and aging fleets.

He said the air force conducted 70 to 80 flights a day, “not only targeting Taliban and terrorists but playing a vital role” in supplying the area cut off by land after the rebels get land.

The United States has not delivered the promised black Hawk helicopter that can help improve the Air Force, adding Afzaly.

Airport support

The statement from the White House said the 2022 defense request to Congress included $ 3.3 billion in military assistance for Afghanistan.

Of this amount, $ 1 billion was intended to support the Afghan Air Force and other missions, and included three newly renewed Blackhawk helicopters so the White House said it was sent to Kabul.

Other $ 1 billion is intended for purchasing and shipping of the main inventory, such as fuel, ammunition, and spare parts, while the $ 700 million will go to the salary of the Afghan army.

Washington has invested more than $ 8 billion in developing the Afghan Air Force, which almost did not exist when the 2001 invasion dropped the Taliban after the September 11 attack.

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday the United States in the past few days has again used aircraft to support the Afghan forces against the Taliban, amid fears of the rebels will make a quick gain or take over after US forces go.

Biden argues that the United States can achieve nothing subsequently militarily after two decades and long time reaching its goal of removing threats in Afghanistan from the extremist of Al Qaeda.