19.02.2026 09:13
According to Pentagon reports, the value of the military equipment left behind after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was seized by the Taliban, is estimated to be around $7 billion; this inventory encompasses a wide range, from aircraft to ground vehicles and various weapons.
It is estimated that the value of the military equipment left behind after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 is approximately 7 billion dollars.
According to this estimate found in Pentagon reports and U.S. Department of Defense data, the military vehicles, air platforms, weapons, and other equipment provided to Afghan security forces and subsequently taken over by the Taliban are worth billions of dollars in total. Most of this equipment had been given to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) during years of war and training.
WHAT DOES THE LEFT-BEHIND MILITARY EQUIPMENT INCLUDE?
According to the Pentagon report, this billions of dollars worth of military equipment in Afghanistan includes:
- Wheeled and armored ground vehicles (thousands of Humvees and MRAP-type vehicles)
- Attack and transport aircraft as well as helicopters (such as models like Black Hawk and Super Tucano)
- Firearms, air-to-ground munitions, and communication devices
- Night vision equipment and surveillance systems
This equipment had been incorporated into the inventory of the Afghan army as part of the training and equipment packages provided by the U.S. to Afghan security forces since the 2000s. With the collapse of the Afghan government, a large portion of this American-supported inventory fell into the hands of the Taliban.
EVACUATION PROCESS AND CAPTURE
In 2021, during the final stages of the withdrawal process of U.S. soldiers and allied forces from Afghanistan, many American-made weapons and munitions fell into the hands of the Taliban as they quickly captured the capital, Kabul. Pentagon reports noted that the aircraft, ground vehicles, and various weapons left behind at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul came under Taliban control.
CHANGING POLICIES AND DEMANDS FOR RETRIEVAL
This situation became a topic of discussion at both political and military levels in the U.S. Some former officials and politicians argued that the equipment left behind should be retrieved or destroyed, while the Taliban administration stated that this equipment is now under their control and rejected demands for its return.
The value of the military equipment left behind after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and that fell into the hands of the Taliban is estimated to be around 7 billion dollars. According to the Pentagon's assessment, this situation highlights the magnitude of the support provided during the mission and significantly affects the security balance in the region.