Taliban officials considered U.S. military equipment left behind to be their ‘national asset’
By BRIAN NIEMIETZ
The Taliban is unhappy with their parting gifts.
The mood reportedly turned from celebratory to sullen for Taliban fighters when they discovered equipment left behind by U.S. forces that left Afghanistan after 20 years of war had been inoperable and beyond repair, according to a report from Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera English on X (formerly Twitter): “The Taliban were disappointed to find inoperable planes and helicopters left behind by American forces on the military side of the Kabul airport. pic.twitter.com/HfmlwYNjO0 / X”
The Taliban were disappointed to find inoperable planes and helicopters left behind by American forces on the military side of the Kabul airport. pic.twitter.com/HfmlwYNjO0
“Last night their mood was one of joy, celebration, they were shooting in the sky, there were fireworks,” Al Jazeera reported Wednesday. “The mood here today is quite different.”
According to the Middle Eastern news network, the Taliban took their reporters to the Kabul airport used by U.S. troops to show them wreckage where militants had hoped to find a treasure trove of war machines.
“They are disappointed, they are angry, they say they feel betrayed because all of this equipment is broken beyond repair,” the report said.
That damaged equipment includes planes and helicopters considered “a national asset” the Taliban says belongs to Afghanistan, where they control the government. The Taliban reportedly plans to reopen the airport for commercial flights, though the military side of the airfield appears to be useless.
“The Taliban, disappointed,” an Al Jazeera’s reporter said, looking at apparent wreckage. “As this is what the Americans have left behind.”
A massive airlift to get more than 120,000 American troops, operatives, refugees and allies to safety ended Tuesday…
