American troops left Bagram Airfield – its key base in Afghanistan – at night even without notifying the Afghans, the base’s new commander said on Tuesday.
General Asadullah Kohistani said that US troops left Bagram at 03:00 local time on Friday, and that the Afghan military found out hours later.
Bagram also houses a prison, and there are up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in the facility.
The Taliban fighters have been advancing rapidly in Afghanistan as US troops withdraw after almost two decades.
On Monday, General Kohistani said Afghan forces were expecting the Taliban to attack Bagram.
Speaking to reporters at the airbase, he said he was already receiving reports the group was making “movements in rural areas” nearby.
“You know, if we compare ourselves with the Americans, it’s a big difference,” Gen Kohistani said. “But according to our capabilities… we are trying to do the best and as much as possible to secure and serve all people.”
The US announced on Friday it had vacated Bagram, completing its military campaign in Afghanistan ahead of the official end date of 11 September, announced by President Joe Biden earlier this year.
The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan is more than 90% completed, the Pentagon’s Central Command said on Tuesday.
Media quoted Gen Kohistani as saying that the Americans have left behind about 3.5 million items, including tens of thousands of bottles of water, energy drinks and military ready-made meals, known as MREs. They also left behind thousands of civilian vehicles, without keys, and hundreds of armoured vehicles.
They took heavy weapons with them and detonated some ammunition stocks, but left behind small weapons and ammunition for the Afghans, Gen Kohistani said.
Responding to reports of late-night withdrawal from the base, US military spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett referred to a statement issued last week that said US forces had co-ordinated their departure from various bases with Afghan leaders.
Within 20 minutes of the US departure on Friday night the electricity was shut down and the base was plunged into darkness – a signal to looters who smashed through barriers and ransacked the abandoned buildings. Leftover items from the base have ended up in nearby scrap yards and second hand shops.
At its height, Bagram base was home to tens of thousands of troops. It ballooned from a basic Afghan air base to a mini-city with swimming pools, cinemas, spas and imported fast food outlets Burger King and Pizza Hut.
