Kabul — As Americans consider the 25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, attention turns to Afghanistan, where the consequent war ended five years ago, marked by the Taliban’s return to power. Following the departure of U.S. and allied troops after two decades, the Taliban seized billions in American-purchased military equipment. Former President Trump, whose administration negotiated the withdrawal deal, accused President Biden’s administration of mishandling the process.
The streets of Kabul still display remnants of America’s longest war. Taliban fighters are visible in armored vehicles initially supplied to Afghan forces, wearing U.S. tactical gear and carrying U.S.-made weapons. A parade on August 15, 2026, celebrated the Taliban’s five-year reign. CBS News noted a Humvee in Kabul still bearing a Green Bay Packers decal.
President Trump criticized the Biden administration, suggesting it allowed the abandonment of military assets worth billions. He urged the Taliban to return the equipment. Conversely, the Taliban paraded through Kabul, showcasing their American-funded arsenal. Pentagon data shows about $7 billion in equipment fell into Taliban hands when the Afghan National Army collapsed. “Badri 313,” an elite Taliban unit, patrolled with American vehicles, gear, and weapons soon after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
Taliban’s Foreign Affairs spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, stated to CBS News that the equipment now belongs to Afghanistan, dismissing the idea of returning it. He reflected on America’s actions in Afghanistan, suggesting reparations should be considered first.
The war resulted in over 2,400 U.S. military deaths and numerous Afghan civilian casualties. Critics argue the withdrawal strategy enabled the Taliban to evolve into a formidable state military force, heavily armed with U.S.-funded weaponry. These arms have been used to enforce strict Islamic rule, drastically curtailing rights, especially for women and girls, and imposing severe restrictions on daily life.
President Biden offered minimal public commentary on the withdrawal. In August 2021, he emphasized the decision to end U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, maintaining that it was not America’s duty to fight a war Afghan forces were unwilling to continue. In 2023, his administration released a summary of the withdrawal review, mainly blaming the Trump administration for the terms laid out in the Doha Agreement for withdrawal. A report from the State Department in 2023 held both administrations accountable for lacking adequate planning around the withdrawal.