For decades, Taliban militants have fought American war planes and armoured vehicles with mostly Kalashnikovs, improvised explosives and ground missiles.
But with the fall of Kabul they have a new armoury, and it’s mostly care of the United States.
The US spent billions supplying the Afghan military with the tools to defeat the Taliban, but the rapid fall of Kabul and other major cities has left most of that weaponry in the hands of the insurgents.
Between 2002 and 2017, they gave the Afghan military an estimated $US28 billion ($39 billion) in weaponry and military equipment.
“We provided our Afghan partners with all the tools — let me emphasise: all the tools, training, and equipment of any modern military,” said US President Joe Biden last month while defending his decision to withdraw American forces and leave the fight to the Afghan army.
Those weapons are now being brandished across Taliban social media as fighters pose with American-made rifles and vehicles are seen loaded with heavy weapons and mounted with artillery guns.
Video showed insurgents inspecting long lines of vehicles and opening crates of new firearms, communications gear and even military drones.
Here’s a look at some of the war booty the Afghan army left behind as they fled, surrendered or defected to the Taliban.
