The video style is similar to that of ISIS propaganda clips.
Taliban fighters armed with US rifles, radios, night vision goggles, camouflage, helmets, and body armour have released a video showing off their war booty.
The Badri 313 Brigade are filmed without the standard Taliban turban or AK-47, instead decking themselves out with the expensive equipment of the US military which the Afghan army had also used.
د امنیتي ځواکونو ۳۱۳ بدري قطعه چې کابل کې د مهمو نقاطو امنیتي چارې يې په غاړه دي. pic.twitter.com/dSaPKiyv99
— nunnasia (@nunnasia) August 17, 2021
Reuters reports that the Taliban is estimated to control over 2,000 armoured vehicles that were owned by the US & Afghan military, as well as 40 aircraft, including attack helicopters and drones.
“We have already seen Taliban fighters armed with US-made weapons they seized from the Afghan forces,” Rep. Michael McCaul told Reuters.
“This poses a significant threat to the United States and our allies.”
The USA had spent some $800 billion on military activities in Afghanistan during their twenty year occupation, with approximately $83 billion of that used to equip the Afghan army.
Given the specialised training required to use some of the high-tech equipment, several commentators have predicted the Taliban might sell part of the bounty to raise funds.
Other strategists in the US have called for airstrikes to destroy as many of the vehicles and aircraft as possible.
Taliban's arms seizures embarrass US.
Social media images show Taliban fighters carrying M4 and M18 assault rifles and M24 sniper weapons, driving around in iconic US Humvees and, in one video, apparently wearing US-style special forces tactical uniformshttps://t.co/lvewOdiylt pic.twitter.com/vGwtU9UZfJ
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 19, 2021
Taliban release dozens of pics of seized weapons – vehicles – Tank – including a US Drone in Kunduz Airport pic.twitter.com/fdSCPsV27o
— Saleem Mehsud (@SaleemMehsud) August 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/mac_thimmaiah/status/1427220692219555848