A new report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) finds that U.S.-funded weapons, equipment, and facilities abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal now form the “core of the Taliban security apparatus.”
$144.7 Billion Reconstruction Effort Delivered “Neither Stability nor Democracy”
Congress spent nearly $144.7 billion on reconstruction between 2002 and 2021, a mission intended to develop a stable, democratic Afghanistan a goal the report concludes was not achieved.
$7.1 Billion in U.S. Military Gear Left in Afghanistan
The Department of Defense determined that about $7.1 billion in equipment originally provided to Afghan security forces remained in the country after the collapse of the Afghan government. SIGAR was unable to inspect these items due to Taliban control.
Taliban Using American Equipment at Kabul Airport
Visual evidence from August 2021 showed Taliban fighters securing Hamid Karzai International Airport with American-made guns, vehicles, gear, and uniforms immediately after U.S. forces withdrew.
Pentagon Watchdog: Over 316,000 Weapons in Afghan Stockpiles
A separate Pentagon review found in 2022 that Afghan forces possessed 316,260 weapons valued at $511.8 million, though the functional state of this equipment was unknown. The Pentagon emphasized that the U.S. removed or destroyed most gear used directly by American troops.
Report Cites Corruption, Failed Partnerships, and Weak Institutions
Acting Inspector General Gene Aloise said the U.S. mission faced major obstacles, including:
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Partnerships with corrupt and abusive powerbrokers
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Ineffective economic and social development programs
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$90 billion in security funding that created long-term Afghan dependence on U.S. military support
Collapse of Afghan Forces Tied to Sudden U.S. Withdrawal
SIGAR argues that Afghan forces were built in the image of the U.S. military a highly complex structure requiring ongoing American leadership and logistics. When U.S. support was abruptly withdrawn, Afghan morale and capacity collapsed.
U.S. Still Afghanistan’s Largest Donor After Taliban Takeover
Despite the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, the United States has provided over $3.83 billion in humanitarian and development aid since then. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, U.S. disbursements reached $120 million.