The Taliban have declared that the military equipment left behind by the United States in Afghanistan now belongs to them as “spoils of war” and will be used to resist any efforts to reclaim it. This announcement is a direct response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement that he intends to recover American arms that fell into Taliban hands after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, reiterated the group’s stance during a discussion on social media, asserting that the abandoned U.S. weaponry, along with arms previously supplied to the former Afghan government, is now under Taliban control. He emphasized that these weapons are being used to safeguard Afghanistan’s sovereignty and that no foreign power has the authority to demand their return. “These arms belong to the Afghan people, and we will not surrender them to anyone,” Mujahid declared, adding that any attempt to seize them would be met with resistance.
For nearly two decades, U.S.-led forces remained in Afghanistan, supporting the internationally recognized government in Kabul and combating extremist groups. However, in August 2021, the Taliban swiftly reclaimed power following the hasty withdrawal of American troops. A subsequent report from the U.S. Department of Defense in 2022 estimated that approximately $7 billion worth of military equipment was left behind, including aircraft, munitions, armored vehicles, and communications technology, all of which are now in Taliban possession.
Trump accused his successor, Joe Biden, of effectively handing over a significant portion of U.S. military assets to the Taliban.However, Mujahid dismissed these claims, insisting that the Taliban government has not received any financial assistance from Washington since seizing power. He further asserted that the Taliban neither expects nor seeks aid from the United States.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have repeatedly showcased captured U.S. military equipment in their celebrations, presenting it as a symbol of their victory. The withdrawal of American forces was a direct result of the 2020 Doha Agreement, a deal brokered under the Trump administration, which set the terms for the U.S. exit. Biden, while overseeing the final phase of the withdrawal, defended the decision, arguing that the only alternative would have been to reengage in a prolonged military conflict with the
Taliban.
