US left behind more than $7 billion of military equipment in Taliban-run Afghanistan

TIn August 2021, the United States lost more than $7B in military equipment amid chaos and disaster. U.S. military Retire from Afghanistan, With the weaponry and other specialized technology likely to be in their hands now Taliban.

John Sopko is the Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction and he detailed all the details about U.S. military equipment currently in Taliban hands. report “Why the Afghan Security Forces Collapsed” Released late last month.

President Joe Biden announced a full U.S. military withdrawal The Taliban quickly seized Kabul in mid-August 2021. the Afghan military and government collapsed.

SIGAR stated last month, that the Pentagon provided a report regarding the incident. “U.S.-provided weapons and equipment left in Afghanistan following the withdrawal” According to the Defense Department, that was revealed “$7.2 billion worth of aircraft, guns, vehicles, ammunition, and specialized equipment like night vision goggles and biometric devices remain” Afghanistan, Taliban-led.

This equipment was largely provided by the Afghan military that has since been disbanded. In 2021 the U.S. pulled all its soldiers, contractors, support and troops out of Afghanistan and the Taliban quickly advanced.

Pentagon estimated that there was at least 78 planes worth at least $923.3 million. This includes roughly 9.500 air-to ground munitions worth $6.54m, over 40,000 vehicles and 300,000. Weapons were also included in the assessment. “nearly all” The Taliban took the special night vision, surveillance and communications technology that were provided to Afghan forces, as well as biometric technology, but left it behind.

Afghan monitors determined that “the operational condition of $5.7 billion worth of abandoned weapons, ground vehicles, communications equipment, and specialized equipment including night vision, surveillance, biometric, and positioning equipment is unknown.”

HOUSE HEARING TARGETS BIDEN’S ‘STUNNING FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP’ IN AFGHANISTAN

Previous times, the White House downplayed the value of the equipment Jen Psaki, then White House Press Secretary, argued that the White House had been left behind at the close of August 2021. “our objective was not to leave them with any equipment, but that is not always an option when you are looking to retrograde and move out of a war zone.”

SIGAR noted also that pilots from the Afghan Air Force were being trained by SIGAR “flew 64 aircraft to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to avoid Taliban capture” Aircraft and helicopters will be available for purchase in August 2021. Sopko stated that Taliban requested Uzbekistan or Tajikistan send their aircraft back to Afghanistan. They are also trying to seize control of any other military equipment left in Afghanistan.