Tehran-IRAF- Citing the Turkish outlet Haberler, an official report by the U.S. Department of Defense estimates that the value of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American forces in 2021 and subsequently seized by the Taliban is approximately $7 billion.
Over the years, this equipment had been delivered to the security forces of the former Afghan government as part of U.S. training and support programs. However, following the sudden collapse of Kabul’s governing structure, it effectively fell into Taliban hands without oversight.
What Equipment Did the Taliban Acquire?
According to Pentagon data, the remaining inventory includes thousands of armored and wheeled vehicles, including Humvees and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs), various attack and transport aircraft, helicopters such as Black Hawks and Super Tucanos, light weapons, air-to-ground munitions, communications equipment, and night-vision and surveillance systems.
The scale of this equipment illustrates the extent of advanced weaponry the United States brought into Afghanistan during its two decades of military presence.
The Rushed Withdrawal and Its Consequences
In the final days of the U.S. presence, as Kabul fell rapidly, a significant portion of this equipment was abandoned at bases and airports.
Reports emphasize that many aircraft, military vehicles, and weapons were left at Kabul airport without being destroyed or transferred, effectively handing them over intact to the Taliban.
This situation has once again raised serious questions about how the U.S. withdrawal was managed and its implications for regional security.
Reactions and Contradictions in Washington
In the United States, some politicians and former officials have called for the retrieval or destruction of the equipment. However, the Taliban has stated that the equipment is now the “national property of Afghanistan” and that there are no plans to return it.
These contradictions suggest that Washington has struggled even in managing the consequences of its withdrawal.
An Outcome Contrary to 20 Years of U.S. Claims
The Pentagon report once again underscores that the 20-year U.S. presence in Afghanistan did not bring stability. Instead, the chaotic and costly withdrawal effectively strengthened the very group Washington had long claimed to be fighting.
Now, billions of dollars’ worth of U.S.-made equipment are in Taliban hands, a development that has had a significant impact on the region’s security balance.
Previously, reports by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) had also revealed the major failures of the American presence in Afghanistan.
