The Foreign Office has raised serious concerns regarding the presence of modern weaponry in Afghanistan, following the United States’ withdrawal and the military equipment left behind.
Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized that these weapons pose a direct threat to Pakistan’s security, with terrorist groups, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), exploiting them to launch attacks within Pakistan.
“The existence of advanced weapons in Afghanistan is a critical concern for Pakistan and its people,” said the spokesperson. “We have consistently called on the Kabul administration to take all necessary actions to prevent these weapons from falling into the wrong hands.”
Khan highlighted that this demand is aimed at ensuring peace both in Pakistan and the wider region. Pakistan has consistently addressed this issue through diplomatic channels, urging the need for regional stability. The Foreign Office reiterated its call for Afghan authorities to take immediate steps to secure these weapons and prevent militant groups from acquiring them.
Reports from last week indicate that the Afghan Taliban has refused to return any of the military equipment left behind by the US troops following their departure in 2021. A source, speaking anonymously, revealed that relations between Kabul and the Trump administration have been fraught from the outset.
Instead of retrieving the abandoned weapons, the source suggests that the US should consider supplying the Taliban with more advanced weaponry to combat the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), a local affiliate of ISIS, highlighting the region’s shifting alliances and ongoing tensions.
