India Can Re-export Russian Helicopters To Afghanistan: Russian Official

Moscow may ok India’s possible re-export of Russian-made Mi-24 helicopters to Afghanistan.

"If the Indians want to sell them, there is a special procedure for that. I don’t see any problems," Zamir Kabulov, Russian president’s envoy for Afghanistan and director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s second Asia department was quoted as saying by Tass Tuesday.

India has Russia's authorization to re-export helicopters, he added.

Last month, it was reported that India had grounded the fourth and last helicopter, which was about to be supplied to Afghanistan, due to lack of Russian spare parts. During that time, the Indian Air Force had expressed its inability to spare anymore rotary wing platforms from its inventory due to its own operational requirements.

In January, three Mi-25 attack helicopters were being inducted into Afghan Air Force out of the four scheduled. The helicopters were supplied by India for the first time. The Mi-25s were meant to replace Afghanistan’s aging Mi-35 attack helicopters and strengthen Afghanistan’s air support capabilities in the ongoing struggle against the Terrorism.

The Mi-25 agreement between India and Afghanistan was announced in November 2015, when  Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai visited New Delhi.

In the past, India had also supplied three Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) Cheetal trainer helicopters to the AAF.