Islamabad, January 30, 2025: Pakistan has reiterated its concerns over the presence of advanced US weaponry left behind in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops in August 2021, stating that these arms pose a serious threat to the country’s security.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, responding to media queries regarding reports of efforts to retrieve these weapons, emphasized that terrorist groups, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have used them to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
“We have consistently urged the de facto authorities in Kabul to take concrete measures to prevent these weapons from falling into the wrong hands,” Khan stated.
During diplomatic engagements with Taliban officials, Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about the use of these weapons by the TTP. In a recent interaction, Pakistani officials presented evidence linking TTP militants to US-made arms, which had been accessible only to the Afghan Taliban following the withdrawal of foreign forces. When confronted, Taliban authorities failed to provide a convincing explanation for how the TTP acquired these weapons.
While there is no official figure, some estimates suggest that US military equipment worth approximately $7 billion was left behind in Afghanistan.
Former US President Donald Trump recently acknowledged the risks posed by abandoned American weapons in Afghanistan, effectively validating Pakistan’s concerns—a position previously dismissed by the Biden administration.
Since assuming office, Trump has adopted a tougher stance toward the Taliban government, suspending aid to Afghanistan and halting the Afghan refugee resettlement program.
Pakistan continues to press for action to ensure that these weapons are not used to destabilize the region.
