Fact-checking: Rejection of American weapons left in Afghanistan in neighboring countries and Gaza Strip

The 'PoliGraph' website, a fact-checking project of Voice of America, has examined the Taliban's claim that it has no role in the trafficking of American weapons left after the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan. This research shows that American small arms are not only sold in the black market in some provinces of Afghanistan but have also reached other countries and regions. Last month, an Israeli commander, who wished to remain anonymous, told Newsweek that American small arms seized by the Taliban after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 have reached Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip. Remaining American weapons in Afghanistan have also been seen in Pakistan and elsewhere. Media reports indicate that the Taliban profits from the illegal trade of seized weapons, and some analysts say that the Taliban controls the black market for arms. The Taliban has denied this. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Afghan government, tweeted on July 10: 'We seriously reject the claims of some circles in the United States that the Islamic Emirate has sold weapons and equipment left by American forces in Afghanistan to other sources.' He further stated that after the withdrawal of coalition forces, 'equipment and vehicles are stored in warehouses, and no one is allowed to smuggle or sell even a single weapon.' The Taliban's claim is false. While the Taliban maintains strict control over American weapon stockpiles, its members have directly participated in the sale of U.S. weapons in the black market. When U.S. forces left Afghanistan in August 2021, ending two decades of war, Afghan security forces collapsed. This allowed the Taliban, which had seized Afghanistan, to capture large amounts of small arms and other military equipment. In August 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense estimated that 'equipment worth $2.7 billion remained in the warehouses of the former Afghan government at the time of its collapse, most of which was seized by the Taliban, including military aircraft, ground vehicles, weapons, and other military equipment.' In November 2021, The New York Times spoke with arms dealers in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, which is the Taliban's main base. Dealers openly sold American weapons, some of which they had obtained from the Taliban. Arms traders in Kandahar stated that the Taliban had allowed some of them to sell small arms that they had acquired after seizing the bases of former Afghan government forces. In September 2021, 'France 24' quoted a Kandahari seller named Morteza, who said: 'We bought all these things after the Taliban seized the Afghan army base. Now we are bringing them to the market to sell.' In March, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that members of the militant group 'Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan' had obtained M16 rifles, M4 rifles, night vision goggles, and U.S.-made military communication equipment. This group is organizationally separate from the Taliban of Afghanistan but has been 'inspired by' it. An independent research organization based in Geneva focusing on small arms and armed violence, along with the U.S.-based NGO Afghanistan Peace Watch, reported that the Taliban has intensified its control over large stockpiles of American weapons and the trafficking of small arms. However, they stated that 'arms trafficking' and 'civilian arms sales' continue 'where it is convenient for local Taliban officials to tax these activities' and added that 'illegal and clandestine arms trafficking is also taking place.' According to reports, U.S. weapons have also reached Kashmir, the northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent, where India and Pakistan have been embroiled in territorial disputes for decades. This article is a translation of part of the research conducted on the 'PoliGraph' site, a fact-checking project of Voice of America.