On Wednesday the Taliban in Afghanistan held a military parade showcasing equipment left behind by the US following the chaotic withdrawal from the country in 2022. The US withdrew the last of its military from Afghanistan in August of 2021, leaving behind an estimated $7 billion in equipment and arms.
In a video of the parade, a multitude of mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles can be seen driving in a convoy while Mil Mi-8 and Blackhawk helicopters fly above.
Taliban is holding a parade showing off equipment left behind by Biden-Harris
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The Taliban held the parade to commemorate the third anniversary of taking control of the country, celebrated at Bagram Air Base. The air base had previously been a strategic asset of US military control in the region. Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir said: “The Islamic Emirate has eliminated internal differences and expanded the scope of unity and cooperation in the country. No one will be allowed to interfere in our internal affairs, and Afghan soil will not be used against any country.”
Around 10,000 men observed the parade, alongside many top Taliban officials. Supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada was absent from the event.
According to a report by House Republicans, the military equipment left in Afghanistan included $923.3 million of aircraft, over $4 billion in military vehicles, over 300,000 weapons, and other items. On August 31st, 2021, an official White House statement regarded the evacuation as an “extraordinary success.” During the time of their withdrawal, a suicide bomber caused the deaths of 13 servicemembers.
In January of last year, reports surfaced of militants trying to annex the region of Kashmir for Pakistan using M4s and M16s among other US-sourced arms. Authorities in the region cited the weapons left behind by the US in Afghanistan as the source.
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