Taliban’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said Tehran returned military equipment belonging to the former Afghan government that was removed during the country’s collapse in 2021, amid the withdrawal of international forces.
In a statement, ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said that the hardware had been returned following ongoing contact between the two countries.
The equipment transferred back to Afghanistan includes a large number of weapons, Humvee tanks, military vehicles, fire trucks and other vehicles, Balkhi said.
“This positive step by the Islamic Republic of Iran will further strengthen relations between the two countries,” the statement added.
The Taliban regime’s Bakhtar news agency said the equipment arrived at the Islam Qala border port on Tuesday night. Meanwhile images shared in social media show military vehicles returning from Iran.
Tehran has not commented on the statement.
In 2021, security forces under the previous Afghan government retreated to Iran, taking with them large numbers of weapons and vehicles, as the Taliban proceeded to conquer Afghanistan’s western provinces.
The equipment was then confiscated by the Iranian authorities.
In addition, former Afghan soldiers evacuated military equipment including dozens of aircraft, taking it across the country’s northern borders to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Iran is the first country to hand over U.S. equipment to the Taliban regime. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have so far refused to return the aircraft despite repeated demands by the Taliban.
Reports suggest the U.S. left military equipment worth 7 billion dollars behind in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan amid the chaotic withdrawal of the armed forces. (dpa/NAN)
