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Trump again criticizes ‘foolish’ abandonment of U.S. military equipment in Afghanistan
At a joint press conference with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said that during his first term, his administration strengthened the U.S. military “to a level never seen before.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of the decision to leave American military equipment in Afghanistan, calling it a “foolish” move that undermined years of investment in rebuilding efforts of the former Afghan Army.
At a joint press conference with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said that during his first term, his administration strengthened the U.S. military “to a level never seen before.” He argued, however, that some of that equipment was “unnecessarily left behind” during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Under the Trump administration, America became great again and open for business,” he said. “We rebuilt our military stronger than ever. Unfortunately, and foolishly, a small amount of that equipment was given away in Afghanistan. Compared to what we built, it was minor — but it should never have happened. Now we are rebuilding at a level we’ve never done before, and we’re sending large amounts to our allies as well.”
Trump has frequently criticized the manner in which U.S. forces exited Afghanistan, insisting that the withdrawal was poorly executed and that billions of dollars’ worth of equipment should not have been left behind.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has maintained that all military equipment found within the country after the collapse of the former government now belongs to the Afghan people and “will not be returned to anyone.”
After the U.S. withdrawal and the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, a substantial amount of American-supplied equipment previously used by Afghan National Army forces came under the new authorities’ control. U.S. media reports have estimated that nearly $7 billion worth of American military equipment remained in Afghanistan.
Afghan analysts within the country argue that the equipment constitutes part of Afghanistan’s national assets and cannot be reclaimed by any foreign government.
Football fans across Afghanistan can watch Tottenham Hotspur take on Charlton Athletic live on Ariana Television Network (ATN) tonight, Wednesday, August 26, with coverage beginning at 23:15 Kabul time.
The two London clubs meet in the second round of the EFL Cup, with Tottenham looking to progress while Charlton will aim to produce an upset against their Premier League opponents.
Tottenham enter the match as favourites on paper, with their greater top-flight experience expected to make them the stronger side. However, cup football can produce surprises, and Charlton will be looking to take advantage of any opportunity at their disposal.
The match provides Tottenham with another chance to build momentum early in the season, while Charlton will see the tie as an opportunity to test themselves against one of England’s biggest clubs.
The EFL Cup remains an important route to silverware for clubs across the English football pyramid, with teams aiming to advance through each round toward the final at Wembley.
Afghanistan fans can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Charlton Athletic live tonight on Ariana Television, from 23:15 Kabul time.
The United Nations has warned that around one million children in Afghanistan are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition and could die without urgent treatment.
UNICEF said on Tuesday that about 3.7 million children across Afghanistan are suffering from wasting, a condition caused by acute malnutrition.
Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, said around one million of these children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, which is considered the most dangerous form of acute hunger.
“If there is no treatment and we are not able to act fast, that one million number are at risk of dying,” Oyewale said during a media briefing in Geneva, speaking from Kabul.
He said the nutrition crisis is worsening across the country, with more than 500,000 children requiring hospital care so far this year for moderate and severe wasting.
According to UNICEF, nearly 40 percent of children admitted to hospitals with severe wasting and medical complications are babies younger than six months. Children under the age of two account for more than 80 percent of severe acute malnutrition cases.
Oyewale said malnutrition is playing a major role in the increasing number of deaths among very young children in Afghanistan.
The situation has also placed growing pressure on hospitals. In July last year, around 6,000 severe malnutrition cases were recorded, while the number rose by about one-third to more than 8,000 cases by July this year.
“In parts of southern Afghanistan, some hospitals are now seeing three or four severely malnourished children for every available bed,” Oyewale said.
Kabul Municipality says the districts of Bagrami and Chahar Asyab will be incorporated into Kabul city as part of a broader plan to expand and develop the capital.
Nematullah Barakzai, a Kabul Municipality official, told the BBC that Kabul has experienced significant growth in recent years, both through the expansion of the city’s boundaries and the construction of high-rise buildings.
“Kabul is not only growing vertically, but it has also seen considerable horizontal expansion, which can be observed on Google Maps,” Barakzai said. “Kabul currently has 22 municipal districts, and Bagrami and Chahar Asyab are also expected to be incorporated into the city.”
The municipality has not yet announced a specific timeline for implementing the plan.
Bagrami is located about 15 kilometers from central Kabul, while Chahar Asyab lies south of the capital and serves as one of the main routes connecting Kabul with Afghanistan’s southern provinces.
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