The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan began celebrating the third anniversary of its takeover of Afghanistan on Wednesday with a military parade at the former US Bagram Air Base, a pointed snub to the American presence that ended in 2021. Bagram AFB had been a transit point for all coalition materials in Afghanistan during the 20 years of ISAF's existence. The parade, preceded by a speech from the Taliban government in power since 2021 advocating the responsibility to uphold Islamic rule, protect property, preserve lives, and respect the nation, included foot troops and aerial elements, showcasing a restored power.

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Taliban fighters in traditional shalwar kameez on military parade on 14 August 2024 (Picture source: Taleb press Agency)

Parade of Forces between Tradition and Modernity of an Army

In the images and videos available today, we see troops traditionally outfitted, Taliban fighters without special equipment, dressed in blue shalwar kameez with black turbans, armed with light and individual weaponry well-known to Western military. This is how the Taliban insurgency was often portrayed, as the shalwar kameez is widely worn by Afghan civilians, facilitating concealment among them.

Focusing still on the more traditional troops, we can discuss the light fighters on their motorcycles, used in the fight against the coalition to move quickly through the challenging terrains typical of Afghanistan.

However, these lightly equipped and armed fighters belong to the past, with the majority of the parade highlighting equipment and fighters befitting a conventional army.

American MRAPs, M1117 transport vehicles, Humvees, as well as Russian helicopters dating back to the Soviet occupation (Mi-8), but not only, some balckhawk are visible, which were used by the Afghan government and the Afghan National Army (ANA), were featured.

Where Did These Equipments Come From?

The war in Afghanistan was a testing ground for technological innovations for the USA and France, leading to a significant turnover of materials on the Afghan theater. The latest vehicles deployed were particularly adapted to the challenges and constraints of Afghanistan, whether in force doctrine, responding to Taliban harassment, combating IEDs, or simply dealing with the weather.

Rewinding to 2021, during the first half of the year, the Americans were rapidly evacuating personnel but not their vehicles. However, these were the vehicles used by the forces on the ground and thus suited to the terrain. When things escalated in August 2021 and Kabul fell, the priority shifted to sabotaging vehicles and evacuating the remaining soldiers, not the materials. Thus, the Taliban were able to recover, albeit sabotaged but repairable, American equipment at Kabul Airport and Bagram AFB, explaining the presence of Humvees (lightly protected transport vehicles) and MRAPs, which are considerably heavier and better protected.

The same goes for M113 and M1117 vehicles, originally purchased by Afghanistan but fallen into Taliban hands over the past three years. Additionally, modern individual equipment is noted on fighters during the parade and in the streets. One can find weaponry on the AR-15 platform, individual protections (bulletproof vests, plate carriers), heavy helmets like FAST or MICH, and even night vision optics.

Conclusion

Once traditional-clad fighters in flip-flops conducting more or less intense skirmishes in the mountains, the Taliban are now a very well-equipped armed force by the country's standards. However, knowing how to operate and actually using equipment in combat are far different. It remains to be seen how effectively this material is used in ongoing skirmishes on the Afghan borders. Currently, Pakistani forces are conducting operations near Torkham in the east of the country. The reported images do not allow for identification of the vehicles used nor demonstrate real combat effectiveness.