Shir Ahmad Haqqani, the Taliban's Minister of Information and Culture, declared during the opening of the "Mujahid Military Museum" in Maidan Wardak province that their forces defeated world superpowers using low-cost weapons and limited resources.
Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, Mr. Haqqani stated that Taliban forces inflicted heavy financial and human losses on American troops using inexpensive, locally-made mines, which he claimed forced the United States to end its war in Afghanistan. "This mine that you see was made very cheaply, and their expensive vehicles and tanks were destroyed by it," Haqqani said. "So, at a very low cost, their very expensive equipment was destroyed, which panicked America and its allies."
The minister added that Afghans have historically proven they can repel invaders and warned that any future aggressor would face the same fate. In a thinly veiled reference to Pakistan, he cautioned that any country, including neighbors, that violates Afghanistan's sovereignty will face a decisive response.
Meanwhile, Habibullah Mujahid, the Taliban's Director of Information and Culture in Maidan Wardak, detailed the museum's contents. He said it has four sections: military, historical, manuscripts, and a section listing the names of 3,051 "martyrs," including 53 suicide attackers. The museum currently displays 250 ancient artifacts alongside 261 items from the recent conflict.
Saeed Khosti, head of the registration of "jihadi artifacts," explained the purpose of the collection. "A large American tank worth millions of dollars was destroyed by such devices," he said. "These are all artifacts of jihad, and the leader of the Islamic Emirate has tasked us with collecting them to convey a message to future generations."
Local officials also announced that efforts are underway to collect and preserve weapons and artifacts used by Afghans during the Soviet invasion, with the intention of displaying them in the museum.
Source: Local Reports
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