Military biometric devices, helicopters: List of expensive captures by Taliban

The Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan just two weeks before the US troops withdrawal after two-decade war, has captured all major cities in the country, including Kabul. The takeover led to fall of the Afghan government and former president Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.

According to News 18, the Taliban have captured some expensive weapons. Here’s a look at some of them:

US military biometrics devices, which could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces, is now with the Taliban. The devices, known as HIIDE, for Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment, were seized while the Taliban were making advances last week, a report in The Intercept said.

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According to the video circulating on social media, the Taliban fighters, in northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, captured prominent Afghan warlord and US ally- General Abdul Rashid Dostum, property. 67-year-old General Dostum is one of the most notorious strongmen in Afghanistan and Taliban considers him to be their fiercest enemies, according to Al Arabiya.

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There are videos of Taliban fighters seizing weapons caches and roaming freely in different provinces. Footage of Afghan soldiers surrendering in the northern city of Kunduz shows army vehicles loaded with heavy weapons and mounted with artillery guns safely in the hands of the insurgent rank and file.

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The fighters have also captured US-made Afghan military helicopters at Kandahar airport, AFP reported. A video on social media shows an insurgent walking around a US-made Black Hawk military helicopter and another one can be seen on the tarmac. They have also seized one of the four attack helicopters that India donated to Afghanistan. Pictures and videos of Taliban cadres standing next to a Mi-24 attack helicopter are going viral on the social media.