Three years after seizing control of Afghanistan, the Taliban is now parading military equipment, including operational helicopters, captured from the former Afghan National Army and air force. During a ceremony at Bagram Airfield on August 14, the Taliban displayed a range of military hardware to mark the anniversary of their takeover in 2021.

The parade featured at least three Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, six MD Helicopters MD530F light-attack helicopters, and two Soviet-origin Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters, alongside seven Mi-17 utility helicopters. All aircraft, originally supplied by the Pentagon to the Afghan government, were showcased in a grand display over armored vehicles.

The Taliban’s ministry of national defense highlighted the event on social media, framing it as a celebration of Afghanistan’s liberation from US occupation. The display underscores the ineffective outcome of the US's two-decade-long intervention, which saw billions of dollars spent and extensive military training provided to the Afghan forces. Despite this, the US-backed government collapsed rapidly after the withdrawal of American troops in 2021.

The chaotic evacuation from Kabul International Airport, where Afghan civilians were seen desperately clinging to departing planes, marked the tumultuous end of the US intervention, with American resources now in the hands of the Taliban.