File image.
On August 11, the Taliban seized a Mi-35 attack helicopter that was left behind by Afghan government forces at Kunduz Airport in northeastern Afghanistan.
The helicopter was one of several which India bought and repaired in Belarus then gifted to Afghanistan in 2019. The Mi-35 is the export version of the Mi-24V, which can be armed with 9M114 Shturm anti-tank guided missiles.
Afghan government forces removed the helicopter’s rotor blades and stored them right under it before withdrawing from the airport. It is still unclear why the attack helicopter was not moved to another base or destroyed before the withdrawal.
Video reportingly shows #Taliban captured Kunduz airport with #Afghanistan Air Force Mi-35 Hind attack helicopter pic.twitter.com/u7jZJdR800
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) August 11, 2021
Taliban fighters captured vast parts of Kunduz, including the capital of the province in the last 24 hours. According to the group’s claims, some 3,000 Afghan service members surrendered and handed over several aircrafts and more than 500 vehicles.
Footage from different parts of Kunduz confirms that the Taliban seized at least dozens of military vehicles, mainly US-made Humvees.
#Kunduz Air field,ANDSF soldiers surrenderd to #Taliban.They brought their rifles and vehicles. pic.twitter.com/nMpppcB7J3
— Spoils of war (@SpoilOfWar) August 11, 2021
— Spoils of war (@SpoilOfWar) August 11, 2021
The Taliban’s victory in Kunduz was a major blow to the Afghan government. The US abandoned its allies in Afghanistan while knowing very well that they are not ready to face the Taliban on their own. The weapons supplied by the US are now in the hands of the Taliban.
With the weapons captured in Kunduz, the Taliban will likely advance faster and further then before in northeastern Afghanistan.
