Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – US President Donald Trump has said that if Afghanistan wants continued aid from the United States, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) must return American military equipment left behind during the 2021 troop withdrawal.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Trump expressed frustration over the IEA’s public displays of the US-made hardware, stating that it “makes him angry.”
The IEA has previously argued that the equipment, which includes tanks, trucks, weapons, and advanced night-vision goggles, was provided to the former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and therefore rightfully belongs to Afghanistan.
Trump, however, dismissed this claim, saying, “If we are going to give them money, it’s okay, but then I want them to give us back the military equipment that they have.” He added, “They have tanks, trucks, guns, and goggles. They have night goggles. Better than we have. Brand new. Right out of the box. It’s unbelievable.”
The former president also alleged that the IEA is “selling” the equipment, though he did not provide further details. He emphasized that the abandoned hardware is worth “billions and billions of dollars” and insisted, “If we are going to pay them, then I want to get that equipment back.”
This is not the first time Trump has raised the issue. During his 2024 election campaign, he repeatedly called for the return of the weapons and equipment left behind during the chaotic withdrawal.
The Pentagon has estimated the total value of the abandoned equipment, which includes aircraft such as fighter jets and helicopters, at over $7 billion.
In response to Trump’s latest comments, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed them as “electoral rhetoric” and reaffirmed the IEA’s position that the equipment will not be returned. Mujahid stated that the IEA intends to continue safeguarding the hardware for the country’s defense.
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing debates in the US about the cost and consequences of the Afghanistan withdrawal, with critics highlighting the significant loss of military assets and the Taliban’s subsequent consolidation of power.
