US Weapons Left in Afghanistan Fuel Militants in Pakistan

A series of reports highlight that US military equipment abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan is now being utilized by militant groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in Pakistan. Weapons such as M4A1 rifles, M16 rifles, and advanced night-vision devices, originally supplied to Afghan forces, have been recovered after attacks, including a recent train hijacking. Pakistani officials have raised alarms about the security implications of these weapons, with evidence showing they have entered illicit arms markets along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Despite concerns, the Pentagon claims that the recovered arms represent only a small fraction of what was left behind. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities. The situation underscores ongoing tensions and security challenges in the region, exacerbated by the legacy of the US withdrawal.