The Complex Legacy Of Us Weapons In Afghanistan

The US left behind military equipment worth billions of dollars in Afghanistan after its withdrawal in August 2021. This included aircraft, munitions, military vehicles, weapons, and communications equipment. The Taliban, now in control of the country, has access to these weapons and has been seen using them in parades to implement their rules on the people of Afghanistan. There is concern that the Taliban could use the small arms, drones, and ammunition left behind, or pass them on to other militant groups. Indeed, US-made weapons have been showing up in other conflicts, including in Kashmir and Israel's Gaza Strip.

The Taliban are selling US weapons to terrorists

The proliferation of US-made weapons in Afghanistan has significant implications for global security. The Taliban, with their extensive smuggling networks and connections to terrorist groups, are funneling small arms to like-minded extremists and insurgents. These weapons are being used to target and kill police and soldiers in countries like Pakistan, where the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and separatists in Balochistan are engaged in an escalating war against the state. US assault weapons have also been reported in attacks by non-state groups in Kashmir and Israel's Gaza Strip.

The Taliban's access to and control over US-made weapons is a result of the chaotic and hasty US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which left behind a massive arsenal with an estimated value of $7.12 billion. This included aircraft, vehicles, weapons, and other military equipment. The diversion of US-supplied weapons was a long-standing issue, with corrupt or demoralized Afghan forces selling American arms even before the fall of the republic.

The impact of the Taliban's arms dealing extends beyond the immediate region. Experts predict that US-made weapons will continue to flow out of Afghanistan, reaching terrorist groups in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Persian Gulf. The Taliban's victory and access to advanced weaponry have also provided an ideological boost to radical militants worldwide.

The US government has acknowledged the diversion of weapons to the Taliban, but efforts to retrieve or destroy the abandoned equipment are not currently planned. The challenge of maintaining and operating complex weapons systems may limit the Taliban's ability to utilize some of the more sophisticated equipment. However, their vast arsenal of small arms and the potential for illicit arms sales remain a significant concern for regional security.

US weapons are being used against America's allies

The US left behind $7 billion worth of weapons and equipment in Afghanistan after its withdrawal in August 2021. This included aircraft, munitions, military vehicles, weapons, and other materials. The Taliban seized troves of American weapons and vehicles from surrendering Afghan soldiers.

Now, US weapons are turning up in far-flung trouble spots where terrorists are fighting and killing America's allies. US-made weapons are being used in Kashmir, a region shared by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. Militants trying to annex the region for Pakistan are carrying M4s, M16s, and other US-made arms and ammunition.

In addition, the Taliban are selling left-behind US weapons, creating a global smuggling web that earns billions of dollars. These weapons are being funnelled to like-minded extremists and are turning up in markets across southern and eastern Afghanistan and in neighbouring Pakistan.

The proliferation of US weapons in the wrong hands has made it difficult to combat terror networks and target security personnel. US assault weapons have also been used in recent attacks in Israel's Gaza Strip.

The US military's retreat from Afghanistan has resulted in a new arms race, threatening global security and putting America's allies at risk.

The US left behind $7 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan

The equipment left behind included aircraft, air-to-ground munitions, military vehicles, weapons, communications equipment, and other materials. The US left 78 aircraft procured for the Afghan government at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, which were demilitarized and rendered inoperable before the US military left. In addition, a total of 9,524 air-to-ground munitions, valued at $6.54 million, remained in Afghanistan at the conclusion of the US withdrawal.

The US also left behind over 40,000 military vehicles, including 12,000 Humvees, and the operational condition of these vehicles is unknown. More than 300,000 weapons were left behind, along with nearly 1.5 million specialty munitions and common small arms ammunition, valued at a total of $48 million.

The report also noted that "nearly all" communications equipment, night vision, surveillance, biometric and positioning equipment, explosive ordinance disposal, and demining equipment were also left in Afghanistan.

The US military's retreat from Afghanistan has had significant consequences, with US-made weapons and equipment now falling into the hands of the Taliban and other terrorist groups. The Taliban have been seen parading US-made weapons and vehicles in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, and there are concerns that these weapons could be used to target US allies and interests in the region and beyond.

The Taliban are using US weapons to implement their rules

The US left behind a large amount of military equipment when it withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. This equipment was originally meant for the Afghan government and its security forces but fell into the hands of the Taliban as the Afghan forces surrendered or fled. The Taliban have been seen parading US-made weapons and vehicles in the streets of Afghanistan, using them as a show of force and to intimidate the local population into obedience.

The Taliban's access to US weapons has raised concerns among experts and officials, who fear that they could be used to commit human rights abuses, kill civilians, or be sold to other militant groups or adversarial nations. There are also worries that the Taliban may not be able to properly maintain and operate some of the more sophisticated equipment, such as aircraft and drones, without access to specialized maintenance and technical support previously provided by US contractors.

The proliferation of US-made weapons in Afghanistan has wider implications for global security. There are reports of these weapons turning up in other conflict zones, such as Kashmir and the Middle East, where they are being used by terrorist groups and extremists. The Taliban, already heavily involved in illicit trades such as drugs and contraband, are now at the center of a global smuggling web for weapons, earning them billions of dollars.

The US government is facing criticism for its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, particularly regarding the large amount of military equipment left behind. The chaotic and hasty exit has led to a situation where American weapons are now empowering the very group the US sought to defeat, with potential consequences for regional stability and global security.

US-made weapons are being sold in Afghan gun shops

In the aftermath of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Afghan gun shops have been openly selling US-made weapons. This development is a consequence of the Taliban takeover, during which militants seized American-made weapons and equipment from surrendering Afghan soldiers as various military bases were overrun.

In Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan, weapons dealers have shared that dozens of Afghans have set up shops across the south of the country, selling US-made pistols, rifles, grenades, binoculars, and night-vision goggles. These weapons were originally provided to the Afghan security forces as part of a US training and assistance program costing over $83 billion.

The Taliban's demand for weapons has decreased since the end of combat, leading to gun merchants selling their weapons to Afghan entrepreneurs, with many smuggling the weapons to Pakistan, where there is a strong demand for American-made arms. The loss of American-made weapons and gear is a costly consequence of the failed 20-year US mission in Afghanistan.

The US military left behind weapons worth billions of dollars, including small arms, Humvees, aircraft, and drones. This has sparked fears of a regional arms bazaar, which could be exploited by terrorist groups and insurgents, with the Taliban at the centre of a global smuggling web.

The proliferation of US-made weapons has made it challenging to combat terror networks and has provided these groups with the means to target security personnel. The Taliban's control of the new black market for weapons serves as another source of income for the group, in addition to their involvement in other illicit trades.

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