The Taliban showcased a trove of U.S. military equipment, including Black Hawk helicopters, armored vehicles, and various weapons, during victory parades in Kandahar on Wednesday. The display comes in the wake of the United States' chaotic final withdrawal from Afghanistan, which saw the abandonment of significant amounts of military hardware.
Videos from the parade revealed Taliban fighters standing atop captured Humvees and tactical vehicles, driving them along a highway in a striking demonstration of their newfound power. Adding to the spectacle, a Black Hawk helicopter circled overhead, further emphasizing the group's access to advanced military technology.
Many of the Islamist militants were seen carrying American-made M16 rifles, among other weapons previously used by U.S., NATO, and Afghan forces over the past two decades. The precise value of the abandoned equipment remains unclear, though estimates suggest it could be in the tens of millions of dollars.
According to the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the Afghan air force had 167 aircraft, including helicopters and planes, by the end of June. However, some Afghan soldiers fled to neighboring Uzbekistan with 22 military planes and 24 helicopters prior to the fall of Kabul. The fate of the remaining 121 aircraft is uncertain, but many are believed to have fallen into Taliban hands.
Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, detailed on Monday the equipment left behind at Kabul’s airport during the final withdrawal, including a C-RAM rocket defensive system, around 70 blast-resistant vehicles, and at least 27 Humvees. The U.S. maintains that this equipment was deactivated before the evacuation.
Nevertheless, the Taliban have also captured significant hardware from Afghan security forces, which had been funded and supplied by the U.S. during the protracted conflict.
President Joe Biden, facing intense criticism over the handling of the withdrawal, defended his decision in a national address on Tuesday, calling it the "right decision" for America despite the loss of 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghans in an ISIS attack near Kabul airport last week.
“This is the right decision. A wise decision. And the best decision for America,” Biden stated, describing the operation as an "extraordinary success" despite the heavy toll.
Former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for leaving behind billions of dollars worth of military equipment, calling the move "insane" and suggesting that the equipment should have been destroyed to prevent it from being used by Taliban forces.
“It’s inconceivable — that equipment is going to be coming at us for many years,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business, expressing concern over the long-term implications of the abandoned hardware now in enemy hands.
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