Key Points:
- Trump demands return of $100 million worth of military equipment left in Afghanistan.
- Taliban responds, seeking compensation for 20 years of war damages.
- Compensation claims exceed $320 billion, including civilian casualties and infrastructure loss.
- Taliban threatens to keep US weapons unless reparations are paid.
New Delhi: In a recent statement, President Donald Trump expressed deep concern over the military equipment left behind by the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, demanding that the Taliban return weapons valued at approximately $100 million. This demand follows Trump’s assertion that the Taliban must face consequences if they refuse to comply.
The Taliban has responded defiantly, stating that if the U.S. insists on reclaiming its weapons, it must also compensate Afghanistan for the extensive human, economic, and environmental toll of two decades of war.
Taliban’s Compensation Claims: A Financial Reckoning
The Taliban’s demands for compensation are staggering. They assert that from 2001 to 2021, U.S.-led military actions resulted in significant losses for Afghanistan:
- Over 70,000 civilian deaths and more than 80,000 Afghan soldiers killed.
- An estimated $70 billion owed for civilian lives lost, calculated at $1 million per life.
- Total human compensation claims exceed $320 billion, factoring in injuries and disabilities.
Additionally, the Taliban has prepared a detailed bill outlining claims for theft of natural resources and environmental destruction caused by the war. Rare earth minerals extracted during the conflict are valued at around $3 trillion, with further claims for infrastructure damage reaching over $350 billion.
A Threatening Standoff: Weapons vs. Reparations
The Taliban has made it clear that they will not return U.S. military equipment without receiving reparations for the damages incurred during the prolonged conflict. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, emphasized that the weapons left behind are considered “spoils of war” and will be used to defend Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
In a striking statement, Mujahid asserted, “If America wants its weapons back, it must also pay compensation for these 20 years of war.” The Taliban has also circulated lists on social media detailing their compensation demands.
The Economic Fallout: Can the U.S. Afford to Pay?
Experts warn that if the U.S. were to fulfill these compensation demands, it could lead to severe economic repercussions for Washington. The staggering total of over $320 billion in claims could potentially bankrupt the U.S., raising questions about the feasibility of such reparations.
Trump’s insistence on retrieving military equipment has raised eyebrows among analysts who argue that doing so would likely require a military intervention—essentially a re-invasion of Afghanistan—given that much of the equipment is now inoperable without U.S. maintenance.
A Complex Geopolitical Landscape
As tensions escalate between Trump and the Taliban over military equipment and reparations, both sides appear entrenched in their positions. The Taliban’s refusal to return weapons without compensation highlights the complex legacy of two decades of conflict in Afghanistan.
With Trump’s administration poised to take a hard stance against the Taliban while simultaneously addressing humanitarian aid concerns, this standoff may redefine U.S.-Afghanistan relations moving forward. The world watches closely as these developments unfold in a region still grappling with the aftermath of war.
