Pilots would be reemployed, they should not leave country: Mujahid

KABUL (Pajhwok): Following reports of Afghan pilots fleeing from Tajikistan, deputy information and culture minister Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday said that Afghan professionals should not leave their country as they would be reemployed to their positions.

Mujahid also said that 33 planes and helicopters which had been damaged during the last withdrawal of US troops and Afghans’ evacuation, had been repaired.

The New York Times on Wednesday reported that over 140 Afghan Air Force (AAF) pilots and crew members have been flown out of Tajikistan.

The source wrote that one of the Afghan pilots shared pictures of the group boarding a plane, saying that their destination was the United Arab Emirates and then to the United States.

ZabihullahMujahid told a news conference in Kabul today that the evacuation of cadres to foreign countries was not in Afghanistan’s interest and called on them to return to their country.

He added that air force and civilian pilots would be re-hired in their specialized units and that they should not leave their country.

“Thirty-three planes and helicopters have been repaired and ready to fly again, this was done by the same soldiers and engineers who worked and served in the Air Force. We also need the pilots, they are our air force and we respect them, we invite them to return to their work and there will be no any security problems for them,” he said.

A number of planes and helicopters were reportedly destroyed by the US forces before withdrawing evacuating Afghans who worked with them.

Mujahid said no one should leave Afghanistan as the honor of Afghans was protected only in their own country.

“Fleeing the country is not in the interest of the country, the talent should stay in Afghanistan, because their talent is more valuable here, they may work as day laborers in other countries,” he said.

Afghanistan is a shared home for all Afghans, regardless of their ethnicity and political affiliation and this country needs development, he concluded.

mds/ma

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