Shocking $7 Billion Weapons Left to Taliban Sparks Global Outrage

Shocking $7 Billion Weapons Left to Taliban Sparks Global Outrage
The Taliban, the controversial group now ruling Afghanistan, has firmly rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand to return weapons worth an estimated $7 billion. These weapons were left behind by U.S. forces during their hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
This staggering arsenal includes an array of deadly equipment. Among them are small arms such as M16A2/A4 assault rifles, M4 carbines, M24 sniper rifles, M249 light machine guns, and M240 machine guns. Handguns like the Beretta M9 and Glock 17 are also part of the abandoned cache.
Adding to this are heavier arms, including M203 and M79 grenade launchers, M224 mortars, and M2 heavy machine guns. Sophisticated technology like communication systems and night vision devices (AN/PVS-7 and AN/PVS-14) also fell into Taliban hands.
The abandoned hardware is even more alarming. The U.S. military left behind M1151 and M1152 Humvee vehicles, M1117 armored security vehicles, MaxxPro MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles), and a number of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
In a 2022 Pentagon report, it was revealed that the value of all this military equipment reached an eye-watering $7 billion. The report sparked widespread criticism over the lack of foresight and planning during the U.S. troop withdrawal.
Trump, who has consistently criticized the U.S. withdrawal strategy, recently reiterated his demand for the Taliban to return the weapons. However, the group has shown no willingness to comply.
“We have no intention of returning these weapons,” a Taliban representative reportedly stated. This bold response underscores the group’s confidence and its position as the dominant force in Afghanistan.
The U.S. withdrawal in 2021 drew widespread condemnation for the chaos it left behind. Images of crowded airport runways and desperate Afghans clinging to departing aircraft shocked the world. Adding to the controversy is the fact that the U.S. left behind one of the largest single caches of modern military hardware ever seized by a non-state group.
Critics argue that the U.S. government underestimated the implications of leaving such advanced weaponry behind. Military analysts have expressed concerns about how these weapons could now be used. Some fear they may bolster the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan or even find their way into the hands of other militant groups.
This is not the first time such concerns have arisen. History has shown that weapons left behind during conflicts often reappear in unexpected and troubling ways. Many experts believe that this particular case is one of the most glaring examples of such oversight.
The Pentagon, when questioned, stated that much of the abandoned equipment was either destroyed or rendered inoperable before the U.S. withdrawal. However, independent reports suggest otherwise. Videos and images circulating on social media show Taliban fighters posing with the equipment, indicating that much of it remains functional.
The situation has also raised questions about U.S. accountability. “Leaving $7 billion worth of weapons to a group under UN sanctions for terrorist activities is a monumental failure,” said a prominent security analyst.
The abandonment of advanced technology, such as Black Hawk helicopters, has also caught the attention of other nations. Some worry about the potential for this equipment to be studied and reverse-engineered by adversarial states.
The Afghan people, caught in the middle of these global debates, continue to face the consequences of this fallout. Many citizens remain skeptical of the Taliban’s promises of stability and security, especially with such a vast arsenal at their disposal.
For now, the question of what happens to these weapons remains unanswered. The Pentagon’s report has outlined the numbers, but the real-world implications are still unfolding.
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