Taliban defies Trump: Keeps $7B in abandoned US military gear
The Taliban do not intend to return the military equipment that remained in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops. Donald Trump's demand faced resistance, and recovering the weapons could be a significant challenge for the United States.
After the withdrawal of American troops in 2021, substantial armament remained in Afghanistan, including about 1,000 vehicles and artillery pieces, as well as an unspecified number of aircraft units. Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the return of this equipment, conditioning further financial assistance to Afghanistan on meeting this requirement. However, the Taliban have decisively rejected these proposals.
In response to American demands, Kabul expressed the view that the United States should not only abandon attempts to recover the weapons but also support Afghanistan in fighting the Islamic State of Khorasan through additional supplies. Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fetrat briefly noted that they do not plan a more detailed comment at this time.
Equipment worth billions was left in Afghanistan
Trump, criticized the withdrawal of American troops and the value of the abandoned equipment is estimated at about 7 billion dollars. Although part of the equipment was deliberately damaged during the evacuation, many vehicles and weapons remained intact. The Taliban also managed to repair some damaged units.
The arsenal left behind includes tracked armored personnel carriers like the M113 and MaxxPro vehicles.
