Afghanistan: What weapons were left behind and how dangerous could they be?

Synopsis

On August 31, 2021, the final U.S. military plane left Kabul airport, marking the end of a 20-year American presence in Afghanistan. In the aftermath, the U.S. left behind significant military equipment, including aircraft and firearms, which the Taliban had been accumulating from the Afghan army. Taliban members, particularly from the elite Badri 313 unit, quickly entered the former U.S. military section of the airport, inspecting CH-46C Night helicopters. The U.S. Department of Defense invested nearly $1.8 billion in the Afghan air force since 2019, but the reality of the situation is complex. While images of Taliban fighters with advanced aircraft raise concerns, U.S. Central Command reported that all 73 aircraft at Kabul airport were rendered unusable. However, analysis of satellite images revealed that at least 45 aircraft were relocated to an airfield in Uzbekistan, and some usable aircraft, including Soviet-era MI-17 helicopters and UH-60 Blackhawks, are now in Taliban possession, raising alarms about their potential use.