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Russian Mi-17 Helicopters Often Superior to Black Hawks: Report
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The U.S. Army’s Black Hawk helicopters are less capable for some missions conducted by Afghanistan’s Air Force than the Russian-made ones they’re replacing, Pentagon’s inspector general said in its latest report.
According to the report, Black Hawks do not have the lift capability of the Russian aircraft.
In addition, Black Hawks “are unable to accommodate some of the larger cargo items the Mi-17 can carry, and in general it takes almost two Black Hawks to carry the load of a single Mi-17”.
The Pentagon Inspector General says, “Unlike the Mi-17, Black Hawks cannot fly at high elevations and, as such, cannot operate in remote regions of Afghanistan where Mi-17s operate.”
But the Afghan Defense Ministry says the Black Hawks choppers have a special maneuver capability than Mi-17.
“The U.S.-made Black Hawks are having an efficient, speedy and powerful transport capability,” said Mohammad Radmanish, a spokesman for the ministry of defense.
At the same time, Asadullah Nadim, an Afghan military expert said that there are more than ten types of Black Hawks. He added that the U.S. hasn’t provided modern Black Hawks to the Afghan Air Force (AAF).
The AAF has been flying the Russian-made chopper since the 1980s.
During the last couple of years, the U.S. lawmakers urged U.S. officials to stop buying the Mi-17, the Russian-made helicopters, for Afghanistan in light of Moscow’s interventions abroad.
The AAF UH-60 Black Hawk crews conducted their first operational mission in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on May 2018.
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US Congressman renews call to approve bill halting aid to Afghanistan
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Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee has emphasized that the bill to prevent terrorists from accessing American taxpayers’ money should be approved as soon as possible by both houses of Congress. If this bill is passed and signed into law, it will prevent the US from sending cash aid to Afghanistan.
Burchett said in a post on his X account that the bill must be approved as soon as possible so it can be sent to President Donald Trump’s desk for approval.
He had previously urged Donald Trump to stop sending $40 million weekly to Afghanistan.
He stated: “This bill must be passed as quickly as possible in both houses of the US Congress so it can be sent to Donald Trump’s desk for approval.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate believes that the impact of US aid on Afghanistan’s economic progress and development is negligible, and the country can achieve its economic goals through large infrastructure projects.
IEA officials have repeatedly called on the US to release the frozen funds of Afghanistan’s central bank.
Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, said: “The fundamental solution to improving the economic situation is to focus on the implementation of comprehensive and long-term economic programs, taking into account the existing economic capacities, which is a priority for us.”
However, some economic experts believe that international aid is crucial for Afghanistan at this time and that the Islamic Emirate needs to establish better relations with countries in this regard.
The “No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act” had previously been introduced to the U.S. Congress as part of a bill. Although the House of Representatives passed the bill, it did not gain approval from the Senate.
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Baradar meets Uzbek deputy PM in Tashkent
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A delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev during its visit to Tashkent on Saturday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the expansion of trade and transit relations and the investment of Uzbek investors in Afghanistan, Baradar’s office said in a statement.
The Uzbek side stated that Tashkent is prepared to establish a joint commercial zone at the border between the two countries to enhance bilateral trade relations. This commercial zone will include processing factories for pine nuts and cotton, packaging and logistics centers, and manufacturing units for various food products.
Uzbek PM further stated that Uzbek investors are ready to cooperate with the Islamic Emirate in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in Afghanistan and to invest in the industrial sector, including the establishment of a cement factory in Samangan province.
He also noted that significant progress has been made in the exploration of the Toti Maidan gas field in Faryab province, and extraction operations are expected to commence soon.
Meanwhile, Mullah Baradar welcomed the Uzbek side’s proposals and assured full cooperation from the Islamic Emirate in the mentioned areas.
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IEA to trust its own scholars in implementing Sharia: minister
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Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, has said that the Islamic Emirate trusts its own religious scholars in implementing Sharia.
Speaking in an event attended by tribal elders and scholars, Hanafi said that there have been differences of opinion in every century, but the Islamic Emirate has a responsibility to maintain its unity.
“Our zealous nation fought for 20 years in accordance with the fatwa of our scholars and sheikhs. Today, to implement the Islamic system, why should we pay attention to and trust others? We will never do this. We trust our sheikhs. You are scholars and the government belongs to you,” Hanafi said.
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