Taliban defies Trump's call to return military equipment
The Taliban have no intention of returning the military equipment that was left in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops. Donald Trump's demand faced resistance, and retrieving the weapons may pose a significant challenge for the USA.
Following the withdrawal of American troops in 2021, a substantial amount of armament remained in Afghanistan, including approximately 1,000 vehicles and artillery pieces, as well as an unspecified number of aircraft units. Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted on the return of this equipment, linking further financial aid to Afghanistan with the fulfilment of this demand. However, the Taliban have firmly rejected these proposals.
In response to American demands, Kabul suggested that the United States should not only give up efforts to reclaim the weapons but also support Afghanistan in combating the Islamic State of Khorasan through additional supplies. Taliban deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fetrat, briefly stated that they do not plan to provide a more detailed comment at present.
Equipment worth billions was left in Afghanistan
The withdrawal of American troops faced criticism from Trump, and the value of the abandoned equipment is estimated at approximately €6.7 billion. Although some equipment was intentionally damaged during the evacuation, many vehicles and weapons were left in a usable condition. The Taliban also succeeded in repairing certain damaged units.
The arsenal left behind includes tracked armoured personnel carriers such as the M113 or MaxxPro vehicles.
