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\u201cI never experienced the [Taliban] having a large number of their fighters with this more advanced equipment, it was always just a couple here and there,\u201d said Adam Routh, a former Army Ranger and defense strategies expert at the Center for a New American Security \u2014 a think tank located in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would also surprise me if a large number of [Taliban], in the same area, had complete sets of advanced equipment,\u201d Routh added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In areas of Uruzgan province, the Afghan National Army, or ANA, is afraid to conduct night operations, impacting its ability to hold re-captured terrain, a U.S. military official told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Large numbers of Taliban fighters in the area have night vision, ACOGs, and M-4s, and they are fighting an ANA force supplied with only M-16s, helmets and flak jackets, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In one instance, an ANA night patrol in the region experienced nearly 20 casualties because the opponent was better equipped, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corruption also plays a prominent role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Uruzgan for instance, ANA soldiers have sold ammunition to locals in the villages, including Taliban commanders, to bridge the gap of wage theft committed by commanding officers, the official explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, pushed a plan before lawmakers in February with a focus on rebuilding and boosting the offensive capabilities of the Afghan special forces units to break the \u201cstalemate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, much of the problem is the ability of conventional Afghan troops to hold terrain re-captured by Afghan commando offensive operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The White House is still considering a proposal to increase troops in America\u2019s longest war by nearly 4,000. The budget proposal submitted by the Defense Department seeks to revitalize Afghan forces battlefield edge while boosting offensive capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But neither proposal addresses corruption and low morale among Afghan army troops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of this year\u2019s request for funds for the Afghan military is dedicated to its special forces units. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wants to double the size of its current special forces units including the Afghan Special Mission\u2019s Wing \u2014 which flies night time operations in support of Afghan special forces, according to the budget request.![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635918218635200673-gettyimages-461474630jpg.jpg\")
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