The CIA’s First Mission in Afghanistan: A Soviet Helicopter and the Legacy of 9/11
Discover how a Russian helicopter carried CIA agents into Afghanistan after 9/11, marking the start of America's longest war.
POLICY WIRE — Langley, Virginia — Twenty-five years ago, a Soviet-made helicopter made history by transporting the first U.S. CIA operatives into Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks, launching the nation’s longest military conflict.
The seven-member JAWBREAKER team, which arrived in the Panjshir Valley on Sept. 26, 2001, was tasked with gathering intelligence and building alliances with Afghan forces to support the U.S. campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They carried millions in cash to help equip local allies and prepare for the upcoming military operation.
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The Mi-17 helicopter, now preserved at CIA headquarters, played a critical role in the early stages of the war. Its design allowed it to navigate extreme altitudes, including the Anjuman Pass, which reaches over 14,500 feet. The aircraft was modified to avoid detection, featuring an American flag painted on its stabilizers and a call sign of “9-11-01” to commemorate the attacks that led to its mission.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
