According to recent reports, the Taliban has control over the weapons left-back by the US Military forces. They are worth over $84 billion. Read along for a complete insight into the US weapons used by the Taliban.
US troops withdrawal and the weapons left behind
The last remaining pieces of the US military troop left Afghanistan on Monday. However, in the hurry of withdrawing and evacuating. They left behind a ton of expensive and powerful military equipment. They cost over $84 billion. The Taliban did not waste time laying claim to them.
The elite Badri 313 unit paraded across Kabul’s International Airport wearing Military clothes and holding weapons hours after the last of the US’ C-17 aircraft departed. The Talibani Special unit dressed in camouflage, a stark contrast from their traditional Afghan attire, and posed for photos on the tarmac. Additionally, vehicles carrying more members raced along the military side of the airport’s runway. “Afghanistan is finally free. Everything is peaceful. Everything is safe,” declared Hekmatullah Wasiq. Wasiq is a top Taliban official.
What weapons did the US military troops leave behind?
The new regime’s military wing is currently well resourced. According to several reports, costly equipment and weapons including seven CH-46 helicopters used by the US for previous evacuations were in the airport. The US troops also left 73 aircraft and 27 Humvees. However, according to Marine general Frank McKenzie, the Central Command Head, they are disabled. Hence, the Taliban might not be able to use them. “The troops did not blow up the equipment needed for eventually restarting airport operations,” he clarified.
Moreover, the terrorist group has access to several functioning vehicles and weapons. This includes special forces military helmets with mounts for night vision goggles, M4 and M-16 assault rifles, and body armor. The Taliban also obtained biometric devices. This will allow them to collect and store personal data to identify people accurately. Additionally, the troops left several attack planes, mine-resistant vehicles, Ford pickup trucks, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. According to data from the US Government Accounting Office (GAO), there were about 500,000 assault weapons in total.
More on the US militray equipment
The troops left over 42,000 SUVs and 22,000 humvees during the hasty withdrawal. “The Taliban has more Black Hawk helicopters than 85 percent of the countries in the world. Now it has access to $85bn [£62bn] worth of military equipment,” said Jim Banks. The US Republican Congressman also served in Afghanistan. “Those Black Hawks were not given to the Taliban. They were given to the Afghan National Security Forces to be able to defend themselves at the specific request of President [Ashraf] Ghani, who came to the Oval Office and asked for additional air capability, among other things,” added Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Head.
The Afghan Air Force was previously using 167 aircraft according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction quarterly report (SIGAR). Hence, the Taliban are most likely to have control of it. “Our Air Force! At this time, the Islamic Emirate’s air force helicopters are flying over Kandahar city and patrolling the city,” tweeted Talib Times, the official news handle of the group. The total inventory of 211 total aircraft left behind includes the following:
- 45 Black Hawk choppers
- 3 C-130 Hercules aircraft
- 23 A-19 light attack planes
- 43 MD-530 helicopters
- 33 AC-208 airplanes
- 32 Mi-17 helicopters
However, Jake Sullivan, reported that the government does not have the complete image of the defense equipment abandoned in Afghan.
