One of America’s key advantages on any battlefield is its advanced military tech, including night vision, aiming lasers, M4 carbines, and communication equipment. This military tech gives American troops and their allies an advantage once bullets start flying. Recently however, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has been able to get its hands on large amounts of American equipment. How? Blatant corruption may be to blame.
While some equipment will normally be lost in the heat of battle, the mass disappearance of gear has raised suspicions of corruption. Much of the advanced equipment is on loan to Afghan troops from the American forces and a lot of it is never being returned. Mind you, it’s not just a piece here or there that’s being lost. Back in 2016, Afghanistan’s 215th Corps somehow managed to “lose” 49 pairs of night vision goggles. An Afghan military commander was later arrested on corruption charges.
Criminal charges might be too little, too late, however. The Taliban’s elite “Red Units” have used night vision goggles, laser pointers, M4 carbines, and other advanced weaponry to launch effective nighttime guerrilla attacks. In some cases, they have also had access to Afghan armored Humvees, pickup trucks, and other pieces of equipment that have been used to further the effectiveness of their attacks.
Luckily, most of the “lost” equipment isn’t among America’s best. Usually, when the United States donates or loans equipment to countries like Afghanistan, it’s a generation or more older than the gear currently in use by the American military. Regardless, night vision goggles and advanced communication devices are giving the Taliban access to tactical opportunities that they could have previously only dreamed of.
The Afghan government has denied claims of corruption, instead arguing that the equipment was seized after government outposts were overwhelmed. However, it appears that the amount of equipment flowing into the Taliban’s hands can’t be accounted for through looting alone.
Russian Equipment May Be Making Its Way to the Taliban as Well
It’s not just advanced American technology that’s making its way into the hands of the Taliban, but foreign tech as well. Russian military tech in particular. Russian night vision goggles are a favorite, as are heavy guns. Multiple pieces of Russian equipment have been recovered from the battlefield.
American officials allege that the Russians have been supporting the Taliban for at least a year. Beyond equipment, American officials claim Russia has also been establishing links with other parties and governments, such as Iran. If these allegations are true, the “alliance” is an odd one given that the precursors to the Taliban fought the Soviet Union. Of course, the American military was actively supplying weapons to them, as they were anti-Soviet forces back then.
Taliban Resurgence Threatening Much of Afghanistan
Some years back, it seemed as if the Taliban was on the verge of defeat. Then the group was able to retreat across the border into Pakistan. This made it all but impossible to wipe the group out entirely.
Now, the Taliban is pouring back into Afghanistan. Indeed, a BBC study found that the Taliban is active in as much as 70 percent of the country. With advanced American and Russian military equipment in hand, the Taliban may soon be able to outmatch the Afghan army.
Of course, the United States could supply more equipment to Afghanistan as they have before, but now there is an important question to consider before we do so. How much of it will end up in the hands of the Taliban?
