The Complex Web Of Arms: Unraveling Afghanistan's Taliban Connection

The Taliban has acquired billions of dollars' worth of U.S.-made weapons and military equipment from the Afghan government. This includes small arms, night-vision devices, aircraft, trucks, and armoured vehicles. The weapons were either left behind by the U.S. military or seized by the Taliban as they overran U.S.-backed Afghan military bases. Some of these weapons are now being sold in arms markets in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while the Taliban has also been seen using them for military parades. There are concerns that the Taliban could use the weapons to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals, and that they could end up in the hands of terrorist groups.

The Taliban's seizure of US weapons in Afghanistan

The seizure of US weapons has given the Taliban a propaganda boost and a psychological win, with the weapons serving as a status symbol. The Taliban has wasted no time in gloating over their new war booty, and there are concerns that the weapons could be used to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals. The weapons could also be sold to other militias or terrorist groups, or even handed over to adversaries such as China or Russia.

The US government is struggling to take inventory of all the equipment that was left behind, and there is uncertainty over how much of it is still sitting unattended on bases and small combat outposts across the country. US officials acknowledge that a fair amount of equipment has fallen into the hands of the Taliban, but it is unclear exactly how much. The Taliban's biggest gain appears to be psychological, with the seizure of US weapons bolstering their image and morale.

While the Taliban may struggle to operate some of the more advanced aircraft and vehicles without specialised training or maintenance, they have considerable experience with US-manufactured weaponry and will likely be able to maintain Russian-made equipment. There is also a concern that the Taliban could use the small arms, drones, and night-vision devices that do not require extensive training or technical support.

The seizure of US weapons in Afghanistan highlights the wasted funds and failed efforts of the US military in the country over the last 20 years. It also underscores the need for better monitoring and inventory control of equipment provided to allies. The consequences of this seizure could be far-reaching, with a potential impact on global security and the empowerment of extremist groups.

The Taliban's sale of US weapons in Afghanistan

The US military left behind billions of dollars' worth of weapons and equipment when it withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, including guns, rockets, night-vision goggles, aircraft, and armoured vehicles. This equipment was originally provided to the Afghan security forces under a US training and assistance program that cost American taxpayers more than $83 billion over two decades.

With the Taliban in power, Afghan gun dealers have been buying US-made weapons from surrendering Afghan soldiers and selling them to citizens and other countries, such as Pakistan. Weapons dealers in Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan have reported that dozens of Afghans have set up weapons shops, selling American-made pistols, rifles, grenades, binoculars, and night-vision goggles. The Taliban has also been selling weapons to like-minded extremists and criminal cartels, further threatening global security.

The sale of US weapons by the Taliban has raised concerns about the potential for these arms to be used against US interests or allies, or to suppress internal dissent within Afghanistan. The US government has considered options such as airstrikes to destroy the larger equipment but has been reluctant to antagonize the Taliban during evacuations.

The proliferation of US weapons in Afghanistan has highlighted the need for better monitoring of equipment provided to allies and the challenges of ensuring proper disposal or retrieval of such arms.

Concerns about the Taliban's use of US weapons

The Taliban's seizure of US-made weapons following the collapse of Afghanistan's US-supported military has raised concerns about the potential impact on global security. With the Taliban now in possession of US weapons worth billions of dollars, there are worries about how these arms could be used by the group and their allies.

A Large Cache of Weapons

The US military left behind a significant amount of weaponry when it retreated from Afghanistan, including assault rifles, armoured vehicles, helicopters, trucks, and night-vision goggles. The Taliban have been quick to collect these abandoned weapons, with reports of fighters rejoicing near American helicopters, carrying US-supplied rifles, and stacking small arms and ammunition in large piles.

A Threat to Global Security

One of the main concerns is that the Taliban will use these weapons to strengthen their position and suppress internal dissent or that they will be funnelled to like-minded extremist groups, threatening the security of America's allies. There are reports of US weapons being used by terrorists in far-flung trouble spots, including in Pakistan, Kashmir, and Israel's Gaza Strip. The Taliban's control of the arms trade also provides them with another source of income, further empowering the group.

Sophisticated Technology at Risk

In addition to conventional weapons, there are fears that the Taliban now have access to sophisticated US technology, including biometric devices used to identify Afghans who assisted American and allied forces. This technology could potentially be sold to other countries, such as Iran, China, or Russia, further endangering US interests.

The Difficulty of Maintenance

While some of the more complex weapons, such as Black Hawk helicopters, require specialised maintenance and technical support, the Taliban could still utilise or sell off certain parts. Additionally, the group has captured so many armoured vehicles that they can cannibalise them for spare parts to keep others running.

The Impact on Human Rights

The availability of US weapons has empowered the Taliban to crack down on human rights in Afghanistan. The group has been accused of implementing "barbaric rules" and using the weapons to intimidate and oppress the Afghan people.

The Taliban's collection of weapons from surrendering Afghan forces

The Taliban's acquisition of U.S.-made weapons has raised concerns about how easily these arms have fallen into the hands of militants. Videos and photos on social media show Taliban fighters rejoicing near abandoned American helicopters, carrying M24 sniper rifles and M18 assault weapons, and stacking other small arms and materiel. The group has also been seen parading through Afghan streets in U.S. armoured vehicles, flaunting their captured weapons and equipment.

In addition to the direct seizure of weapons, the Taliban have also benefited from the sale of American arms by Afghan gun dealers. In the chaos of the U.S. military withdrawal and the Taliban takeover, thousands of American-made weapons and military equipment were left behind by surrendering Afghan soldiers. Afghan gun dealers purchased these weapons and have been selling them openly in shops, with some weapons even being smuggled to Pakistan, where demand for American-made arms is strong.

The proliferation of U.S.-made weapons in Afghanistan and the region has had significant consequences for global security. The Taliban, already engaged in other illicit trades such as drugs and contraband, have become arms dealers themselves, fuelling conflicts and providing weaponry to extremist groups. American-made weapons have been used by terrorists fighting and killing America's allies, and the group's control of the arms trade has provided them with another source of income.

The Taliban's access to U.S. weapons and equipment has raised concerns about their potential use against perceived opponents of the regime and the suppression of internal dissent. While some of the more sophisticated systems may require specialised maintenance and technical support, the Taliban still have access to small arms, drones, automatic rifles, and mortar rounds that require little training to use. The group's possession of these weapons has empowered them to implement their rules and attempt to convince the Afghan people to obey them.

The value of the US weapons captured by the Taliban

The Taliban captured billions of dollars' worth of US-supplied weapons and military equipment from the Afghan forces. This includes small arms, night-vision devices, M4 and M16 rifles, M24 sniper rifle systems, M2 .50 calibre machine guns, M249 machine guns, AMD-65 rifles, M4A1 carbines, M16A2/A4 assault rifles, M18 assault weapons, grenades, radios, magazine pouches, Humvees, MRAPs, Black Hawk helicopters, drones, Cessna single-engine fixed-wing aircraft, and biometric devices.

The Taliban wasted no time in flaunting their captured weapons and equipment, posting photos and videos on social media of fighters posing with the captured hardware. The captured weapons and equipment could be used by the Taliban to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals. There is also concern that the Taliban could use the weapons to kill civilians or that they could be seized by other militant groups to attack US interests in the region.

The US military removed planes, heavy weapons, and sophisticated military equipment from Afghanistan as it wound down its operations in the spring of 2021. However, it could not take home 20 years' worth of accumulated hardware and left much of it to the Afghan military. The US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, acknowledged that a "fair amount" of defence materials had fallen into the hands of the Taliban.

The Taliban's capture of US-supplied weapons and equipment is a major propaganda victory for the group. It is also a costly consequence of the failed 20-year mission to Afghanistan, which ended in chaos and upheaval when the Taliban seized Kabul in August 2021.

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