The assessment noted that the US had taken steps to destroy or disable some of the equipment before it was left behind, but that much of it was still in working condition. The assessment also noted that the Taliban’s ability to use this equipment would depend on a number of factors, including their training and maintenance capabilities.

The assessment concluded that the US’s decision to leave behind so much equipment was a “significant miscalculation” that could have “serious consequences” for the region. The assessment also called for a review of the US’s policies on military assistance to ensure that such a mistake does not happen again.

The assessment has been criticized by some who argue that it does not go far enough in assessing the risks posed by the weapons and equipment left behind in Afghanistan. However, the assessment does provide a valuable overview of the situation and it is likely to be used by policymakers as they consider how to address the issue.

Arms in the Black Market

The Taliban in Afghanistan are selling the US arms on the black market. These weapons have been reported turning up in a number of countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asia. They have also been reported being used by terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Haqqani Network.

In Pakistan, for example, there have been reports of Taliban-linked groups selling US-made weapons to militants in the country’s tribal areas. These weapons have been used by militants to carry out attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians.

In Iran, there have been reports of Taliban-linked groups selling US-made weapons to Iranian proxies in the Middle East. These weapons have been used by Iranian proxies to carry out attacks against US forces and allies in the region.

In Central Asia, there have been reports of Taliban-linked groups selling US-made weapons to militants in the region. These weapons have been used by militants to carry out attacks against government forces and civilians.

The sale of US arms by the Taliban on the black market is a serious concern. These weapons could be used by terrorist groups to carry out attacks against US forces and allies, as well as civilians. The sale of these weapons also undermines the US’s efforts to combat terrorism in the region. The Taliban and other groups in Afghanistan have a well-established network of arms dealers, and it is difficult to track down these weapons once they have been sold.

The going black market rate of US arms left behind in Afghanistan varies depending on the type of weapon system and its condition. However, some general estimates can be made.

For example, a M4 rifle in good condition could sell for between $500 and $1,000 on the black market. An AK-47 rifle in good condition could sell for between $200 and $500. A Humvee in good condition could sell for between $50,000 and $100,000. A Black Hawk helicopter in good condition could sell for between $1 million and $2 million.

High Technology Systems

There is some concern that high-technology systems left behind in Afghanistan may have landed up in China or Russia. China and Russia are both major players in the global arms trade, and they have been known to purchase weapons from black market sources. If they were to acquire high-technology US systems, it would give them a significant advantage in terms of military capabilities.

The US government is also concerned that China and Russia could use their intelligence services to try to acquire high-technology US systems through other means, such as espionage.

Diversion of arms supplied in a conflict zone is not new. In Ukraine too, afms supplied by the USA and European allies have been diverted into the black market and it is difficult to estimate the scale of diversion. Some of the items that are believed to have been diverted include small arms and light weapons (SALW), ammunition, and night vision goggles.

For example, a Kalashnikov rifle in good condition could sell for between $200 and $500 on the black market. A Javelin anti-tank missile could sell for between $50,000 and $100,000. A night vision goggle in good condition could sell for between $1,000 and $2,000.

Establishing Accountability

As of yet, no one has been held accountable in the US for the large amount of weapon systems abandoned in Afghanistan. There have been calls for investigations and accountability, but no formal charges have been filed. The issue is likely to continue to be debated in the US for some time to come.

Some have argued that the US government should be held accountable for the weapons that were left behind, as they were ultimately responsible for the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Others have argued that the Afghan government should be held accountable, as they were responsible for the security of the weapons.

Here are some of the reasons why no one has been held accountable yet:

The US government has not yet released a full report on the withdrawal from Afghanistan, so it is not clear who was responsible for the decision to leave behind the weapons.

There is no clear legal basis for holding anyone accountable for the abandoned weapons. The US government has not been accused of any specific crime, and it is not clear that any laws were broken.

The US government is reluctant to open itself up to legal liability by investigating the abandoned weapons. If the government were to be found liable, it could be forced to pay damages to the Afghan government or other parties.

It is possible that the US government will eventually be held accountable for the abandoned weapons. However, it is also possible that the issue will be swept under the rug. Only time will tell what will happen.

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Weapon systems left behind by US forces in Afghanistan

Aircraft: 78 aircraft procured for the government of Afghanistan, including 60 Black Hawk helicopters, 18 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes, and 10 C-130 transport planes. These aircraft were demilitarized and rendered inoperable before the US military left.

Ground vehicles: Over 40,000 military vehicles, including 12,000 Humvees, 700 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles, and 200 tanks.

Small arms and light weapons: Over 300,000 weapons, including M4 rifles, M16 rifles, and AK-47 rifles.

Heavy weapons: 26,000 heavy weapons, including 105mm howitzers, 122mm howitzers, and 25mm machine guns.

Munitions: Over 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, including 7.62mm ammunition, 5.56mm ammunition, and 120mm mortar rounds.

Other equipment: Night vision goggles, biometric devices, and communications equipment.

It is important to note that the list above is not exhaustive. There may be other weapon systems that were left behind by US forces in Afghanistan.

The post Weapons Abandoned by US Forces in Afghanistan appeared first on IMR.

Landikotal, Pakistan’s farthest major town along the Durand Line in the tribal Khyber district, no longer makes a secret of what is perhaps its most lucrative trade. Firearms and equipment bearing military markings of the US and Nato countries are openly displayed for sale here.

The inventory is a hoplologist’s delight. Guns, long-range sniper rifl es, pistols, night vision goggles, binoculars, daggers, grenades, military uniforms and ammunition discarded by foreign or surrendered Afghan troops line the shelves of gun shops. Easy availability means prices of these fi rearms and accessories have already dropped significantly.

The asking rate for M4 rifles of the A2 and A4 categories has slid from $9,000-10,000 to $2,500-3,000. The value of the A2 and A4 versions of the M16 rifle ranges between $1,800 and $2,000, down from $5,000. The popular American-make Glock, Beretta, Smith & Wesson 9mm pistols are now available at almost throwaway prices. The Glock 9mm may still be expensive for most, but the price is nowhere near what it used to be. A Beretta or Smith & Wesson can be had for as little as $350-500 (Rs 26,000-37,000).

“These pistols are far superior than the ones legally imported by Pakistan. The American manufacturers use different metals in weapons for military and commercial purposes,” said an arms dealer in Landikotal.

According to arms merchants and security officials, weapons make their way from Afghanistan into Pakistan in trucks laden with fruits and vegetables. The trucks pass through border crossings in Torkhum (Khyber Agency), Chaman (Balochistan), Ghulam Khan (North Waziristan) and Nawa Pass (Bajaur Agency).

On entering Pakistan, the vehicles Kabul go through multiple layers of security checks. They first pass through a checkpoint of the army and the paramilitary Frontier Corps. The second security layer comprises personnel of the Anti-narcotics Force, followed by security clearance by Customs officials. After these three stages, the trucks have to be cleared by the police.

Scanners have been installed at these posts to check the vehicles for weapons in hidden compartments, but trafficking mysteriously continues. There is suspicion some Pakistani security offi cials are involved in this, without which it wouldn’t be possible to illegally take weapons past so many checks.

“This is a big challenge for us — how to stop the smuggling?” said Kamran, a senior customs official.

The Taliban had recently warned people in Afghanistan that if anyone was found in possession of a US-made fire-arm, it would be immediately confiscated and the offender punished.

“The Taliban knows many of its foot soldiers had helped civilians get hold of thousands of weapons stolen from the military bases. The warning has further increased smuggling of weapons into Pakistan as every Afghan who possesses an American or Nato rifl e or pistol now wants to sell it,” said one of the arms merchants in Landikotal, requesting anonymity. He said before the Taliban’s takeover, the outfit had tacitly allowed its fighters to sell firearms captured from the Afghan army.

The political system the US had introduced in Afganistan had started crumbling weeks before the exit of its troops, giving the Taliban control of thousands of American-made weapons, vehicles and military equipment in government military bases in different Afghan provinces.

Most of these firearms had been provided to Afghan security forces under the US training and assistance programme that cost American taxpayers more than$80 billion over two decades. While troves of weapons and vehicles were seized by the Taliban from the surrendering Afghan soldiers, many security personnel sold their rifles and pistols to local arms dealers when the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government became inevitable.

In the past, weapons enthusiasts in Pakistan would need to legally place an order and make huge payments in advance to get any sophisticated US-made firearms. The Taliban’s conquest of Afghanistan has ensured that it is now a buyer’s market in Pakistan.

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