THE Taliban has flexed its military muscle by parading ballistic missiles, rocket launchers and tanks to mark one year since US troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

After two decades in the war-torn region, American soldiers left Afghanistan last year – with the final forces leaving on August 31, 2021.

The Taliban waged a 20-year insurgency against US-led forces that invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks in New York.

But as US troops made a chaotic withdrawal from the region, Taliban fighters plundered stocks of US weapons and vehicles as they surged across Afghanistan in a matter of weeks.

Now – a year after the final troops evacuated Afghanistan – the terror group has shown off hoards of weapons in a chilling "Freedom Day" parade.

Jihadis have been pictured wielding guns and waving their distinctive white flags while tanks, ballistic missiles and rocket launchers were rolled out.

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Intense aerial firing rang out across Kabul as celebratory fireworks lit up the sky above the city.

The parade was held at the sprawling Bagram airbase that served as the control centre for US-led troops during the 20-year war against the Islamist militia, and through the streets of Kabul.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: "Fireworks with various and beautiful colours are going to be held to mark Freedom Day."

The de-facto Taliban government also declared August 30 as day a public holiday to mark the day, the labour ministry said.

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It's thought many of the weapons and vehicles displayed may have been seized from US troops during their departure next year – including tactical US Army Humvees.

With an estimated 85,000 soldiers, the Taliban managed to break the back of the much larger 300,000-strong Afghan Army as many troops appeared to simply lay down their arms.

And with each seized barracks and plundered military depot, the Taliban's arsenal only grew as they obtained new toys abandoned by the surrendering Afghans.

Many of these weapons and vehicles were US military grade having been handed over by Washington as part of the $83billion (£60million) spent trying to prop up Afghanistan's armed forces.

The head of the US Central Command had said back then that there was "a lot of heartbreak" associated with the departure.

Having failed to anticipate the Taliban would prevail so quickly, Washington and its NATO allies were forced into a hasty exit.

The US completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a huge but chaotic airlift that cost the lives of 13 US service members and left behind thousands of Afghans and hundreds of Americans still seeking an escape from Taliban rule.

Some have since been able to leave, but many others remain in Afghanistan, where the Taliban are looking to establish a fully-functional government that is recognised by the international community.

It's understood the group has struggled to form a functioning government able to give those in Afghanistan, for example, health services.

And despite promises to respect the rights of women and minorities, fighters have imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

The Taliban is also now dealing with an insurgency of their own, led by the Afghanistan affiliate of the Islamic State militant group. 

But US spy agencies have concluded that Al Qaeda has not regrouped in Afghanistan since US troops left, reports the New York Times.

According to a new intelligence assessment, only a handful of long-term Qaeda members remain in the country and the group does not have the ability to launch attacks from there against the US.

But counterterrorism analysts believe the judgement could be "optimistic" given the complexity and fast-moving nature of the terror landscape.

It comes after the ex-chief of defence staff warned Britain and the West must "engage" with the Taliban or risk Afghanistan producing more 9/11-style terrorists.

Sir Nick Carter admitted there had been a string of failures in the botched withdrawal after the militant group took power a year ago.

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But he insisted that it was now time for the international community to step in and talk to them as a "humanitarian crisis" is unfolding there.

Earlier this month, rifle-wielding Taliban fighters enjoyed pedalo rides to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their bloody takeover of Afghanistan.

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