Taliban allies celebrate US exit with American, NATO flags draped on coffins

Supporters of the Taliban in Afghanistan paraded the streets of the country on Tuesday with coffins covered with flags of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to celebrate the exit of American troops after 20 years.

The parades were carried out in the eastern city of Khost, according to reports from Reuters.

The procession, which is being termed as a mock funeral by many on social media, also saw flags of the United Kingdom and France, both of whom are members of the NATO and strong allies of the United States.

Qari Saeed Khosti, an official of the Taliban, said that August 31 will be recognised as the “formal freedom day” as it marks the exit of American troops from Afghanistan after two decades, according to reports from Reuters citing coverage of Zhman TV.

In photos shared on social media, some individuals in the crowd can be seen holding up guns while some celebrated bearing flags of the Taliban.

According to multiple US media reports, celebratory gunfire was witnessed in many regions of Afghanistan, including the national capital Kabul after the last aircraft of the United States was airborne from the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

While multiple posts on social media showed members of the Taliban entering the other side of Kabul’s international airport and explored the equipment left behind by the United States service members. This included weaponry, tactical equipment like night visons and helicopters, according to reports from Reuters.

However, the spokesperson of the United States Department of Defense, John Kirby said that the country was not concerned about the helicopters left behind in Afghanistan as they had been disabled by the exiting forces. More than 70 aircraft and dozens of vehicles were left unusable by the United States military.