Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said that the remaining US weapons in Afghanistan now belong to the Taliban and will not be returned, Khaama.com reported.
He responded to US President Donald Trump's recent comments about military equipment remaining in Afghanistan. Balkhi also stressed that the Taliban would be open to US companies investing in mining operations in Afghanistan.
Balkhi suggested that for improved relations, the US could invest in Afghanistan’s untapped mineral resources. He reiterated that the country’s rich natural wealth is open to American investment. This statement comes amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the US military’s withdrawal and the equipment left behind.
President Trump, in a meeting on March 28, criticized President Biden for allocating billions of dollars worth of military equipment to Afghanistan. He also expressed anger over seeing the Taliban’s military parade using US weapons. Trump hinted that the US may demand the return of these military assets, though stated that the equipment may be outdated.
The Taliban, on the other hand, views the leftover US military equipment as war spoils and insists that they will not return them.
US concerns over Taliban access to US-made weapons have led to regional security fears, especially about the potential use of these weapons by groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Despite these concerns, Taliban officials have stated that they do not need US cooperation to fight ISIS, further complicating the relationship between the two sides.
The Taliban’s stance on US military equipment and their willingness to engage in economic cooperation over Afghanistan’s mineral wealth represents a shift in their approach to foreign relations.
Meanwhile, the US remains focused on security concerns, the Taliban’s offer to engage economically could provide a new avenue for future dialogue. This developing situation underscores the complex and evolving nature of US-Taliban relations.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 30, 2025