The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifles chosen by the militant groups because of their rugged design, but now some Taliban militia are trading them in for captured US guns as Afghan government collapses.
Video and pictures published by the Taliban on Twitter and elsewhere show fighters carrying M4 carbines and M16 rifles thrown away by Afghan army. Other images show Taliban militants capturing abandoned government vehicles.
The US-made guns are more precise and have greater range than the AK-47s, but on their own may not deliver much added capability on the battlefield.
“Some of the hardware might be useful to have if looking to intimidate rival warlords, but that’s about it. They’ve rather well with what they already had,” said Grant Newsham, a retired United States Marine Corps colonel.
“The Russians crank out millions of rounds of AR 5.56 NATO each year for the US market under the brand names of Tula, Wolf, and Red Army just to name a few,” said another retired US Marines officer. “I suspect the Taliban’s allies will have no trouble supplying parts for just about any infantry system,” he added.
