A Black Hawk helicopter flew over the Taliban's spiritual stronghold in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, while fighters stood on Humvees that had been seized as the Islamists displayed looted U.S. military equipment. This victorious tour by the Taliban, celebrating the final withdrawal of U.S. forces after the group’s sudden takeover in just two weeks, marks the conclusion of a 20-year insurgency.
On the highway to Afghanistan's second largest city, Kandahar, a long line of green military vehicles traveled down the road, most of them adorned with the Taliban's white and black flags. The fighters were in control of the multi-use trucks that had been utilized by U.S., NATO, and Afghan forces throughout the two-decade war—while others climbed onto vehicles in the Ain-o-Maina area on the city's outskirts. Among the light weapons seized by the militants were American M16 rifles. Trucks loaded with supporters passed by the military vehicle convoy, some equipped with heavy weapons and machine guns.
At least one Black Hawk helicopter was seen flying, which may indicate that someone from the former Afghan military was piloting it since the Taliban lack qualified pilots. Kandahar, the stronghold of the Pashtun ethnic group, is the birthplace of the Taliban and the place from which the group rose to power in 1996. By 2001, when international forces led by the United States invaded the country, the Taliban controlled much of it.
At the Kandahar cricket ground, hundreds gathered to listen to speeches praising the Taliban following their successful attack last month and expressing contempt for the United States. Elderly elders sat in the shade leaning against chairs behind wooden tables. Others sat cross-legged on the grass while many more crowded the porch to watch the display. Armed fighters in camouflage stood in front of the crowd.
A person recruiting for the Taliban, named Thaqib, said, “Our common enemy, who pledged to bring prosperity to the country, has failed to do so.” He added, “They claimed they were bringing a civilized system; look at the airport where all the planes remain abandoned.” He remarked, “America did not just attack our young military men. America has corrupted our media. It has robbed our culture. It crushed our economy.”
The movement announced on Sunday that its supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, lives in Kandahar after years of being in the shadows. Reports circulated that he might appear on Wednesday, but he did not, leaving it to the new governor of the city to address the crowd. In a video shared online in preparation for the event, a helicopter dragged the Taliban flag while fighters with covered heads waved on the ground. The day before, thousands of Taliban supporters flooded the streets of Kandahar waving flags and chanting "Allahu Akbar" in celebration of the end of the U.S. withdrawal.
