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The United States began to remove Afghan pilots from Uzbekistan. The first group left for the UAE the day before, the Podrobno.uz correspondent reports, citing data from Reuters.

It is planned that the removal will be organized in several stages over the next few days. Reuters previously reported tensions in a camp in Termez where the pilots were, as they feared they would be sent back to Afghanistan, where they would be killed by the Taliban.

It was unclear what would happen to the 46 aircraft, including the A-29 light attack aircraft and the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that Afghan pilots flew to Uzbekistan. Current and former US officials told the agency that the Taliban pressured Uzbekistan to hand over aircraft and personnel.

John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Uzbekistan, hailed the US evacuation efforts, saying the United States owes a debt to Afghan pilots.