Taliban shows off plundered US military hardware in parade

The Taliban on Wednesday paraded some of the military hardware they captured during their takeover of Afghanistan, hours after US President Joe Biden defended his decision to end the two-decade war.

The Islamist hardliners are celebrating Monday's final withdrawal of US troops as a historic victory after taking control of Afghanistan last month following an astonishing two-week offensive that capped a simmering 20-year insurgency.

On Wednesday a long line of green Humvees and armoured fighting vehicles drove in single file along a highway outside Kandahar -the spiritual birthplace of the militant movement -many with white-and-black Taliban flags attached to aerials, an AFP journalist saw.


In footage posted on a pro-Taliban account of the build-up to the parade, a helicopter flew overhead trailing the Taliban's standard as fighters wrapped in headscarves waved beneath.

At least one Black Hawk helicopter has been seen flying over Kandahar in recent days, suggesting someone from the former Afghan army was at the controls as the Taliban lack pilots.

The United Nations warned meanwhile of a looming "humanitarian catastrophe", underscoring the daunting challenges that the Taliban face as they transform from insurgent group to governing power. All eyes will now turn to how the Taliban handle their first few days with sole authority over the country, with a sharp focus on whether they will allow free departure for those wanting to leave -- including some foreigners.

The US has said that "under 200" of its citizens remain in the country, and Britain said the number of UK nationals inside was in the "low hundreds".