Yasin Rasouli & Zia Shahreyar
BBC Afghan Languages
Getty Pictures
US army apparatus and automobiles, together with deserted Humvees, fell into the palms of the Taliban in 2021
Part 1,000,000 guns received by means of the Taliban in Afghanistan were misplaced, bought or smuggled to militant teams, assets have advised the BBC – with the UN believing that some have fallen into the palms of al-Qaeda associates.
The Taliban took keep an eye on of round a million guns and items of army apparatus – which had most commonly been funded by means of america – when it regained keep an eye on of Afghanistan in 2021, in keeping with a former Afghan legitimate who spoke to the BBC anonymously.
Because the Taliban complicated via Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan infantrymen surrendered or fled, leaving behind their guns and automobiles. Some apparatus used to be merely left at the back of by means of US forces.
The cache incorporated American-made firearms, reminiscent of M4 and M16 rifles, in addition to different older guns in Afghan ownership that have been left at the back of from a long time of battle.
Assets have advised the BBC that, on the closed-door UN Safety Council’s Sanctions Committee in Doha overdue remaining 12 months, the Taliban admitted that no less than part of this apparatus is now “unaccounted” for.
An individual from the committee mentioned that they had verified with different assets that the whereabouts of part 1,000,000 pieces used to be unknown.
In a file in February, the UN mentioned that al-Qaeda associates, together with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Motion of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Motion, and Yemen’s Ansarullah motion, have been having access to Taliban-captured guns or purchasing them at the black marketplace.
The BBC put this to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban executive, who advised the BBC it took the safety and garage of guns very significantly.
“All gentle and heavy guns are securely saved. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss,” he mentioned.
A 2023 UN file mentioned the Taliban allowed native commanders to retain 20% of seized US guns, and that the black marketplace used to be thriving in consequence. Those commanders are affiliated to the Taliban however continuously have some extent of autonomy of their areas.
The UN famous that the “gifting of guns is broadly practiced between native commanders and warring parties to consolidate energy. The black marketplace stays a wealthy supply of weaponry for the Taliban”.
A former journalist within the town of Kandahar advised the BBC that an open hands marketplace existed there for a 12 months after the Taliban takeover, however has since long past underground by way of the messaging carrier WhatsApp. On it, rich folks and native commanders industry new and used US guns and gear – most commonly the guns left by means of US-backed forces.
The choice of guns recorded by means of america frame tasked with overseeing Afghan reconstruction initiatives, referred to as Sigar, is not up to the ones cited by means of our assets, however in a 2022 file it said it used to be not able to get correct knowledge.
The rationale given for this used to be that apparatus has been funded and provided by means of more than a few US departments and organisations through the years.
Sigar added that there have been “shortfalls and problems with DoD’s [Department of Defense] processes for monitoring apparatus in Afghanistan” for greater than a decade.
It additionally criticised the State Division, including: “State equipped us restricted, erroneous, and premature details about the apparatus and price range it left at the back of.” The dep. denied this used to be the case.
Getty Pictures
The Taliban has rejected claims that guns were smuggled or misplaced
That is very a lot a political factor, and US President Donald Trump has many times mentioned that he’s going to reclaim guns from Afghanistan. He mentioned that $85bn (£66bn) of complicated weaponry used to be left there.
“Afghanistan is likely one of the greatest dealers of army apparatus on this planet, you recognize why? They are promoting the apparatus that we left,” Trump mentioned throughout his first cupboard assembly of the brand new management.
“I wish to glance into this. If we wish to pay them, that is nice, however we would like our army apparatus again.”
The president’s determine has been disputed, as cash spent in Afghanistan additionally funded coaching and salaries. Additionally, Afghanistan didn’t characteristic within the Stockholm Global Peace Analysis Institute’s most sensible 25 greatest exporters of main hands remaining 12 months.
In accordance with Trump’s feedback, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s leader spokesperson, advised Afghan state TV: “We seized those guns from the former management and can use them to shield the rustic and counter any threats.”
The Taliban frequently parades US guns, together with at Bagram Airfield, which served as the primary US-Nato base, and body them as symbols of victory and legitimacy.
After chickening out in 2021, the Pentagon claimed US apparatus left in Afghanistan used to be disabled, however the Taliban have since constructed a succesful army the use of US guns and won superiority over rival teams, such because the Nationwide Resistance Entrance and Islamic State Khorasan Province – the regional associate of the Islamic State crew.
A supply from the previous Afghan executive advised the BBC that “masses” of unused Humvees, mine-resistant ambush safe automobiles (MRAPs), and Black Hawk helicopters stay in Kandahar warehouses.
The Taliban has showcased a few of this captured apparatus in propaganda movies, however their skill to function and care for complicated equipment, reminiscent of Black Hawk helicopters, is proscribed because of a loss of educated team of workers and technical experience. A lot of this refined apparatus stays non-operational.
Alternatively, the Taliban were in a position to utilise more uncomplicated apparatus, like Humvees and small hands, of their operations.
Whilst Donald Trump seems decided to reclaim US guns from Afghanistan, the previous head of Sigar, John Sopko, says such an try could be unnecessary.
At a contemporary match hosted by means of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Research, he mentioned that “the associated fee would exceed its exact price”.
Whether or not Trump will take any motion is still noticed, however, within the intervening time, considerations in regards to the unfold of guns within the area and get entry to by means of militant teams stay unresolved.
