In response to U.S. requests that military hardware left in Afghanistan be returned, the Taliban have declared that the weapons are now their property and are "spoils of war." The $7 billion worth of equipment has not been returned by the Taliban, who have instead called for payment for the pain and destruction caused to Afghanistan over the course of the 20-year war.
A substantial amount of military equipment was left behind when U.S soldiers left Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban grabbed these weaponry communications equipment military vehicles, and airplanes when they took back control of the nation. Over 40000 military vehicles and 78 planes, valued at approximately $7 billion, were among the assets left behind according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Taliban has consistently maintained that the military equipment now belongs to them and will be used to defend Afghanistan's sovereignty and Islamic system. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson emphasized that no external force can compel them to surrender these weapons. Instead the Taliban has suggested that if the U.S insists on retrieving the equipment, they expect substantial war reparations for the consequences Afghans have endured over the past two decades.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the return of American military equipment arguing that the Taliban has profited from selling it on the international market. Trump has suggested that any future financial assistance to Afghanistan should be contingent upon the return of this equipment. However, the Taliban has rejected these demands, stating that they have not received any financial aid from the U.S. since regaining power.
Afghanistan has experienced severe economic and humanitarian hardships over the past 20 years as a result of the prolonged warfare which is reflected in the Taliban's demand for reparations. Some international observers endorse the Taliban's claim that America should make up for the pain and destruction caused during this time, pointing out that the fighting has left Afghanistan with long standing social and economic problems.
The complicated post-conflict relationship between the United States and Afghanistan is exemplified by the dispute over American military hardware and the Taliban's demand for reparations, as the situation develops it will be critical that both sides make diplomatic attempts to resolve these problems in a positive way, the United States may need to reevaluate its strategy putting more emphasis on mending ties and aiding Afghanistan recovery than on demanding the return of military hardware.
In conclusion,
Taliban's demand for payment for the war and their unwillingness to surrender American military hardware highlight the continued hostilities between United States and Afghanistan, this circumstance highlights the need for a more sophisticated approach to regional international relations as well as larger difficulties in post-conflict reconstruction.
