‘Power is the most persuasive rhetoric’ said the German writer Friedrich Schiller. This statement aptly denotes the diplomatic spat between the Taliban and the Trump administration on the leftover weapons in Afghanistan after the 2021 withdrawal of US forces. On the eve of his inauguration ceremony on January 20th, President Donald Trump demanded that the Taliban return US weapons left in the country during the 2021 withdrawal. He described the US withdrawal from Afghanistan as an embarrassing moment in the country’s history, criticizing the previous administration for leaving billions of dollars worth of weapons in Afghanistan.

“Instead of taking back the weapons, the US should provide the Taliban with more advanced weapons to fight the Islamic State of Khorasan, or ISIS-K, an offshoot of the broader Islamic State organization.”

The Taliban extended the olive branch to the newly elected president Donald Trump. “I will take realistic steps toward concrete progress in relations between the two countries and both nations will be able to open a new chapter of relations”, said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the deputy spokesperson of the Afghan Foreign Office. But the bonhomie has not seen the light of the day yet. The Taliban have rebuffed the call for weapons maintaining that the weapons belong to the Taliban as ‘spoils of war’. The official spokesperson of the Interim Taliban Administration, Zabih Ullah Mujahid, has rejected President Trump’s demand, stating, “Instead of taking back the weapons, the US should provide the Taliban with more advanced weapons to fight the Islamic State of Khorasan, or ISIS-K, an offshoot of the broader Islamic State organization.”

“The presence of US advance weapons in Afghanistan, left behind in the aftermath of the withdrawal of its troops in August 2021, has been an issue of profound concern for the safety and security of Pakistan and its citizens.”

The diplomatic spat between the Trump administration and the Taliban has spiraled into a regional security concern as nations bordering Afghanistan have voiced their concerns regarding the weapons. The arms have found their way into the hands of violent extremist groups and fringe elements such as TTP and BLA. Advanced assault rifles and night vision goggles have ameliorated the hostile activities of such groups against states combating terrorism, such as Pakistan. The Pakistani FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan noted with concern that  “The presence of US advance weapons in Afghanistan, left behind in the aftermath of the withdrawal of its troops in August 2021, has been an issue of profound concern for the safety and security of Pakistan and its citizens.” The foreign office acknowledged that the weapons are jeopardizing regional security. Pakistan’s foreign office has also called on the government in Kabul to take effective measures to ensure the weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

The Trump administration has also suspended US aid, a vital resource to the country’s sustenance, exacerbating the humanitarian and security crisis in Afghanistan

The fiery rhetoric of President Trump comes with no directive, as his administration has not devised a framework for the return of weapons. Instead of coercing the Taliban to regulate the illegal movement of weapons, the Trump administration has incorrectly asserted its position which will do more harm than good. Additionally, the Trump administration has also suspended US aid, a vital resource to the country’s sustenance, exacerbating the humanitarian and security crisis in Afghanistan. This underscores the lack of consideration for Afghanistan’s internal stability, as the Kabul government considers these weapons an integral part of their national stability.

A part of the weapons dilemma is America’s creation – the Special Inspector General of Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has reported the mismanagement in recordkeeping of the weapons issued

Negotiations on the issue of weapons are not a far-fetched possibility. The precedent to effective negotiations between the Trump administration and the Taliban exists in the form of the Doha agreement which led to the eventual rise of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. Moreover, Trump’s anti-intervention policies and the more inwards, US-centric disposition are favorable to the Taliban as they do not want another foreign power meddling in their internal affairs. The Taliban have already expressed the desire to work alongside the US and they are mindful of the fact that non-compliance to the US policies will bring more challenges. A part of the weapons dilemma is America’s creation – the Special Inspector General of Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has reported the mismanagement in recordkeeping of the weapons issued and provided to the former Afghan National Security and Defence Forces (ANDSF) by the US military, most of which came to be used by the Taliban after the 2021 takeover. President Trump must also hold people accountable for such gross mismanagement.

Trump’s assertiveness regarding the return of weapons can potentially risk the deterioration of the bilateral ties between the US and Afghanistan with ramifications for regional security

Afghanistan is still undergoing a transition and a weakened Kabul is not a favorable development for the region. Despite reassurances by the Taliban to improve diplomatic ties, the newly elected Trump administration’s actions can push the country into another security crisis. Trump’s assertiveness regarding the return of weapons can potentially risk the deterioration of the bilateral ties between the US and Afghanistan with ramifications for regional security. The problem can be resolved through diplomatic channels, involving major stakeholders, such as Pakistan. Trump administration views the US withdrawal from Afghanistan as unfinished business but geopolitical realities need a grounded approach to this issue. pragmatism dictates a thorough look at the ramifications of withdrawing US weapons, which may result in worsening the troubles of Afghanistan and the rise of terror organizations such as IS-KP which has already become a serious security threat in the region and beyond.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.