The Taliban government of Afghanistan has effectively doubled its Air Force (to 20 planes) by restoring to service ten MiG-21s that had been grounded for lack of parts. [This seems to indicate that Taliban has either found a source for parts, presumably in ex-Soviet Central Asia.] Previously, Taliban could count on only about 10-12 aircraft (MiG-21s and Su-22s), all fitted for ground attack. A further increase in air power has come from fitting five L-39C trainers with bomb racks, bringing the effective Air Order of Battle to 25 combat planes. --Stephen V Cole