Cowboy's daughter Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:48 am
From The Hill
Uzbekistan warns US-trained Afghan pilots, families face expulsion
The issue of U.S.-trained Afghan pilots in Uzbekistan came under increased attention after Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is a former U.S. Air Force pilot, asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to get involved with the situation and help the pilots who are at risk of retaliation from the Taliban, the Journal reported.
The State Department responded to questions on the matter, saying, “We thank the Uzbek government for continuing to host Afghans in Uzbekistan while we pursue all avenues for their long-term safety and security,” according to the newspaper.
The State Department, however, has been slow in responding to the situation, the Journal reported, citing a foreign official, which has frustrated the Uzbek government.
The Taliban are now reportedly pressing officials at the Uzbekistan Embassy in Kabul to send the pilots back, a foreign official told the Journal, warning that their families in Afghanistan will be at risk if they are not sent back immediately.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/570058-uzbekistan-warns-us-trained-afghan-pilots-families-face-expulsion