Following the takeover of a former Afghan National Army base, the Taliban have come into the hands of thousands of unused weapons and vehicles intended for US and Afghan troops. From one base in Wardak province in the north of the country, Sky News showed how the insurgents have snatched an astonishing 900 brand new guns, 30 hummvies, 20 armoured pick-up trucks, thousands of rounds of ammunition and boxes upon boxes of brand new missiles and mortars.

One Taliban commander told Sky News: "Most of the time we don't rely on all of this.

"We just rely on Allah.

"But it does help us a lot and it has given us a lot of new weapons we can use in battle.

"Of course we want peace, all people want peace here, but the government doesn't want peace with us."