Almost half of the nearly one million pieces of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan after the 2021 withdrawal have gone missing, been sold, or smuggled to militant groups, BBC News reported. The troubling revelation follows a Washington Post investigation that found weapons used in the recent Jaffar Express hijacking were of U.S. origin.
Weapons left behind by Afghan forces or abandoned by U.S. personnel included firearms like M4 and M16 rifles, Humvees, and older military gear. During a private UN Security Council meeting in Doha late last year, a Taliban representative admitted that about half of this equipment is now “unaccounted for,” according to sources.
Reports suggest that the weapons are being traded openly in markets, particularly in Kandahar, through messaging platforms like WhatsApp. While the Taliban continues to parade U.S. arms as symbols of victory, the group's ability to operate sophisticated equipment like Black Hawk helicopters is limited due to a lack of technical expertise. However, more basic items, such as small arms and Humvees, are actively used in Taliban operations.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the U.S. withdrawal, claiming that $85 billion worth of advanced military equipment was left behind, which the Taliban has reportedly sold to fund its operations. In response, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the weapons would be used to defend Afghanistan from external threats.
This alarming situation has raised global concerns about the security implications of the abandoned U.S. arms, as militant groups continue to gain access to high-tech weaponry.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
