Afghanistan - Taliban Artillery Regimental H.Q. Color, taken Nov. 2001, Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
This Taliban flag was recovered from the rubble of what is believed to be the regimental commander's office of the headquarters of the Taliban Army in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. It was recovered in November 2001 by independent film maker Jim Burroughs while filming the aftermath of American bombing on the Taliban Military Headquarters in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

The flag is a Taliban Army artillery regimental commander's flag, recognizable by the name of the commander and regiment written below the Arabic inscription "God is Great". The symbols of crossed cannons can be recognized on the center of the banner. This regimental flag was recovered from the rubble of the commander's office. There are stains and caking of blood on the flag. Cords and a finial were recovered with the flag.

Video footage of the missile taking off from U.S. warship that destroyed the military headquarters are in the ZFC files. Actual video of the missile hitting the building and the subsequent explosion are documented in the video. There are additional images of the independent journalist Jim Burroughs who is covering the war finding the flag in the rubble of the commander's office a week after the missile strike. The flag was attached to a pole that was buried under rubble, requiring Burroughs to cut it from it's staff. The flag and digital video were added to the collection in Oct/Nov 2002.

Exhibition History:
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0504)
Afghanistan (Taliban Regime) 170th Regimental Artillery Color

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery VI
(ZFC0504)
Afghanistan (Taliban Regime) 170th Regimental Artillery Color

University of California - Santa Cruz
(ZFC0504)
Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit
Santa Cruz, CA
7 June 2012

Publication History:

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.139.


Provenance:
• Taliban Regime, Afghanistan, 170th Artillery Regiment, 1996(?) - 2001.
• Acquired in rubble Taliban Military Headquarters, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, by journalist James Burroughs, 2001.
• Sold by private treaty to Zaricor Flag Collection, 2002.


ZFC Significant Flag

Sources: