RASC News Agency: Local sources from Herat province in western Afghanistan report that there is not a single Taliban pilot capable of operating the helicopters of the group’s Ministry of Defense. A local source in Herat, who wished to remain anonymous, told RASC News Agency on Sunday, May 18, that the Taliban lack the capacity and skills to operate the aircraft left by the former Republic.
The source indicated that when Afghanistani aircraft are occasionally seen in the skies, they are being piloted by former Republic pilots who are now held captive by the Taliban. According to the source, some of these pilots recently lost their lives due to technical malfunctions in the helicopters.
Currently, there are no Taliban pilots capable of conducting relief operations for flood-affected families, the source added. Another source in western Afghanistan, also speaking anonymously, told RASC News Agency that most Afghan pilots have sought refuge in neighboring countries and Europe.
This exodus of skilled individuals has had a negative impact on the Taliban, as the departure of Afghanistan’s elite has hindered the group’s ability to govern effectively, the source continued. The source suggested that if the Taliban had treated all segments of society equally, the country’s intellectuals, scholars, and educated professionals could have collaborated with the Taliban to establish a unified system for progress, development, and education, ultimately leading to national prosperity.
Mahmood Fayzi, an expert in western Afghanistan, confirmed that the Taliban are in a crisis, with no individual or nation giving credence to their statements. He added that from the outset, the Taliban’s promises, including their general amnesty, have proven hollow, driving people away from the group. Fayzi asserted that had the Taliban governed with integrity, they would not be facing such dire circumstances today.
He predicted that sooner or later, the Taliban will abandon Afghanistan, leaving it to others, and will eventually flee the country according to a prearranged plan. Taliban officials in Herat have not commented on these issues. It is noteworthy that since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, dozens of helicopters from the former Republic’s Ministry of Defense have crashed, primarily due to the lack of skilled pilots within the Taliban ranks.
Recently, a Taliban helicopter on a mission to assist victims of a traffic incident in Ghor crashed due to pilot negligence, sparking widespread criticism.
