U.S. President Donald Trump, on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, once again criticized the manner of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and said that the Taliban is attempting to improve relations with Washington. He also spoke about the possibility of reclaiming military equipment left behind in Afghanistan.
Referring to the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 (1400 in the Persian calendar), Trump stated that the process had been managed in a way that left a large amount of military equipment in the country. He described the withdrawal as a “disastrous retreat,” adding that a planned and gradual exit had been possible.
The U.S. president emphasized that during his own presidency, a plan for withdrawal from Afghanistan had also been discussed, but according to him, it was intended to be carried out in a way that preserved America’s credibility and ensured the complete transfer of military equipment. Trump added that under his proposed plan, none of the equipment would have been left in Afghanistan.
He further stated regarding the equipment left behind that there is a possibility of recovering it. Trump noted that although some of this equipment is now outdated, the United States may take steps to retrieve it.
Trump also claimed that the Taliban is seeking to gain Washington’s approval and improve relations with the United States, although he did not provide further details to support this assertion.
This is not the first time Trump has raised the issue of reclaiming military equipment left in Afghanistan. However, he has not yet provided any specific explanation regarding the mechanism or feasibility of such an operation.
The U.S. president has also previously emphasized the strategic importance of Bagram Air Base, stating that he would like the United States to regain control of the facility.
In contrast, Taliban officials have previously rejected these statements. The Taliban has declared that it will not allow the recovery of this equipment, which it considers “war spoils.” The group has also ruled out any return of U.S. forces to Bagram Air Base.
Following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, official reports from the U.S. Department of Defense indicated that approximately $7 billion worth of military equipment and weapons remained in the country. This equipment includes aircraft, armored vehicles, various weapons systems, and advanced night-vision technology.
The administration of Joe Biden had previously stated that this equipment had originally been handed over to the security and defense forces of the former Afghan government, and that during years of U.S. presence in Afghanistan, it had been provided to the Afghan military and security institutions.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
