The Taliban, who are now ruling Afghanistan have declined to return the military equipment left by US forces upon their 2021 departure. The Taliban says, according to Bloomberg, that they need arms, ammunition, and advanced military equipment to combat the ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan) terrorist organization.

This position came after US President Donald Trump made a bold statement at a rally. He threatened to cut all financial aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned US military equipment, which includes aircraft, munitions, vehicles, and communications gear. Trump said, “If we’re going to pay billions of dollars a year, tell them we’re not going to give them the money unless they give back our military equipment.”

The Taliban did not respond directly to Trump's comments.

The US military left Afghanistan after 20 years with about $7 billion worth of military equipment. Though the Taliban denies Trump's demand, this equipment is still under their control, and they are trying to restore ties with the United States.

The Taliban especially wants to get access to some $9 billion trapped foreign currency reserves. Afghanistan, which has suffered greatly from the loss of foreign assistance, would benefit greatly from this money in terms of much-needed financial help.

The Taliban is keen to have their government given worldwide acceptance, and creating calm ties with the United States is essential for attaining that aim.

Even if some nations, including China, Pakistan, and Russia, have greeted Taliban members, the organization remains not acknowledged by the international community officially. The Taliban’s human rights record, including various abuses, has led to widespread criticism.

China interestingly became the first nation to give diplomatic recognition to the Taliban, therefore indicating some level of support; but this is far from an official recognition of their government.

What the Taliban wants from the US

First and foremost, the Taliban wants to obtain international recognition and financial help. Having been hit by sanctions and the absence of foreign aid, they hope to stabilize their economy using the frozen reserves. This means that despite rejecting Trump’s demand, the Taliban is still keen to establish a relationship with the US.

The Taliban announced that they had negotiated an exchange—freeing an American citizen in exchange for an Afghan prisoner held in a US prison—as part of these initiatives. The Taliban is willing to redeploy itself to boost its international reputation.

Though the Taliban may be not following Trump’s orders, their effort to start a dialogue with the United States suggests a new direction in their strategy.