During its two-decade presence in Afghanistan, the United States made substantial military investments to support both its own forces and the former government of Afghanistan. Although the exact value of this investment remains unclear, estimates suggest that the military equipment left behind by U.S. forces in Afghanistan is worth billions of dollars. Following the U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021, under President Joe Biden’s administration, no official position was taken on reclaiming the equipment from the Taliban. However, during his election campaigns, Donald Trump criticized the abandonment of U.S. military gear and raised concerns about its implications. With Trump’s potential return to the White House, the issue of recovering this equipment has resurfaced.
Meanwhile, the Taliban, who consider themselves victorious in the war against the United States, refer to the American military equipment as “spoils of war” and have repeatedly refused to return it. During its 20-year mission in Afghanistan, the U.S. had supplied over 1.6 million light and heavy weapons and associated equipment to the former Afghan government. After the collapse of that government, roughly 70%—more than one million weapons—fell into Taliban hands.
Reports have recently surfaced claiming that Trump dispatched a U.S. delegation to Kabul. While the official purpose of the visit was said to be negotiating the release of American citizens imprisoned by the Taliban, some sources suggest the delegation also delivered a message regarding the retrieval of U.S. military assets. It is reported that Trump has laid out three main conditions for the Taliban: return of the U.S. military equipment, transfer of control over Bagram Airfield to the U.S., and repayment of funds received from America. Publicly, none of these demands appear to have been accepted by the Taliban. However, in pursuit of maintaining power, Taliban leadership may concede to some of these conditions. The Taliban understand that direct confrontation with the U.S. is not in their interest—a lesson they remember from the fall of their first regime.
In a report published on March 7, 2025, the U.S. Congressional Research Service stated that while a Trump administration may not drastically alter its Afghanistan policy, actions such as suspending foreign aid and changing its approach to asylum seekers reflect a redefined U.S. strategy toward Afghanistan. In this context, and following the recent visit of the U.S. delegation to Kabul, there is speculation that the issue of recovering U.S. weapons was among the topics discussed—a step that could be part of Trump’s renewed strategy and fulfillment of campaign promises.
Within the Taliban, hardline elements—including the group’s Supreme Leader and several key members—remain opposed to engagement with the United States. Conversely, Taliban members based in Kabul have reportedly tried to persuade the leadership to accept Trump’s terms. Security meetings held in Kandahar, attended by the Taliban Supreme Leader, suggest internal discussions are ongoing regarding the potential handover of Bagram Airfield and some military equipment.
Meanwhile, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Interior and a key figure in the group, has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership’s decisions. After a two-month trip to the United Arab Emirates, he did not return to Kabul. It is believed that during this time, he may have been in talks with U.S. representatives, aiming to pave the way for assuming leadership of the Taliban and facilitating negotiations with Washington.
Upon Haqqani’s return to Afghanistan, mediation by Nabi Omari, Ibrahim Sadr (both deputy at the Ministry of Interior), and Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban’s intelligence chief, reportedly helped arrange his attendance at a security meeting with the Taliban Supreme Leader. This meeting appears to have been a tactical reconciliation, allowing the Taliban leadership to maintain control in case a U.S. initiative materializes.
Nonetheless, fully controlling the situation remains a challenge for the Taliban, and the potential for internal conflict persists. However, there seems to be a significant alignment between the Taliban leadership and the Haqqani faction regarding the partial return of Bagram Airfield and some military equipment to the U.S. The strategic importance of Bagram—due to its proximity to China and Russia—makes it a high-value asset for the U.S. The leftover equipment at the base is also a source of concern for both U.S. forces and neighboring countries.
After several days of discussions, reports indicate that the Taliban, following orders from their Supreme Leader, have transferred U.S. military equipment to Bagram Airfield. It appears the Taliban have chosen the “lesser evil” to secure favor with Washington and ensure their regime’s survival. The gradual, multi-phase handover of Bagram could help prevent distrust among Taliban ranks and preserve their regional alliances.
Lastly, it is worth noting that during his election campaign, Donald Trump stated that if elected, he would strike a business deal with the Taliban and, through a new approach, regain control of Bagram Airfield—primarily to monitor China and manage regional competition. Bagram, which once housed the region’s largest and most advanced airstrip, served as the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan from 2001 until 2021. Following the fall of Ashraf Ghani’s government and the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, the airfield came under Taliban control.
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آیا طالبان تجهیزات نظامی امریکایی را برمیگردانند؟ | روزنامه ۸صبح
