"Their lives were at much greater risk during that time (off base) than they were while they were flying combat missions," Hicks said.Īlthough Taliban assassinations of pilots have happened in years past, the recent killings take on greater significance as the Afghan Air Force is tested like never before. Brigadier General David Hicks, who commanded the training effort for the Afghan Air Force from 2016 to 2017. Yet these pilots often are most vulnerable in the streets of their own neighborhoods, where attackers can come from anywhere, said retired U.S. Shoot-downs and accidents are ever-present risks. Pilots take years to train and are hard to replace, representing an outsized blow to the country's defenses with every loss. They can strike Taliban forces massing for major attacks, shuttle commandos to missions and provide life-saving air cover for Afghan ground troops. intelligence and investigations.Īfghan military pilots are particularly attractive assassination targets, current and former U.S.
The Pentagon said it was aware of the deaths of several Afghan pilots in killings claimed by the Taliban, but declined comment on U.S. The nation's Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. report documented 229 civilian deaths caused by the Taliban in Afghanistan in the first three months of 2021, and 41 civilian deaths caused by the Afghan Air Force over the same period.Īfghanistan's government has not publicly disclosed the number of pilots assassinated in targeted killings. In response to questions from Reuters, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the group had killed Zamaray, and that it had started a program that will see Afghan Air Force pilots “targeted and eliminated because all of them do bombardment against their people."Ī U.N. It could not independently verify the names of the other five who were allegedly targeted.
Reuters confirmed the identities of two of the slain pilots through family members. The militants are quickly seizing territory once controlled by the U.S.-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani, raising fears they could eventually try to topple Kabul. In so doing, the Taliban - who have no air force - are looking to level the playing field as they press major ground offensives. and Afghan officials believe is a deliberate Taliban effort to destroy one of Afghanistan's most valuable military assets: its corps of U.S.- and NATO-trained military pilots.
#Battle islands saying i lost a battle but i didnt series
This series of targeted killings, which haven't been previously reported, illustrate what U.S. In Tehran talks, Iran offers help to resolve Afghan crisisĪt least seven Afghan pilots, including Zamaray, have been assassinated off base in recent months, according to two senior Afghan government officials. considers visas for vulnerable Afghan women after military exit Afghan exit creates security threat on southern flank mission in Afghanistan over a decade agoįor Russia, U.S. Taliban says it controls most of Afghanistan, reassures Russiaīiden lost faith in the U.S.
"We didn’t know that he would never come back." Zamaray “only went there because he personally knew the realtor and thought it was safe," Samiullah Darman, his brother-in-law, told Reuters. The boy was spared, but barely speaks anymore, his family says. The father of seven collapsed dead on his 14-year-old son, who had tagged along. Zamaray reached for his sidearm but the gunman shot him in the head. Instead of being greeted by a prospective buyer at his realtor's office earlier this year, the 41-year-old pilot was confronted by a gunman who walked inside and, without a word, fatally shot the real estate agent in the mouth. KABUL, July 9, (Reuters) - Afghan Air Force Major Dastagir Zamaray had grown so fearful of Taliban assassinations of off-duty forces in Kabul that he decided to sell his home to move to a safer pocket of Afghanistan's sprawling capital.