Pakistan has experienced a significant uptick in terrorist attacks in recent months, resulting in tragic loss of lives among civilians and security forces due to the activities of militant groups throughout the nation.
Of growing concern in recent times is the escalating utilization of foreign weaponry, including those left behind by the United States in Afghanistan, by terrorist organizations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army, and others.
Repeatedly, Pakistan has raised concerns about sophisticated weapons falling into the hands of militants due to the rapid withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan—a claim vigorously refuted by Washington.
Nonetheless, evidence regarding confiscated weapons and equipment by security forces indicates that militants have indeed been employing US-manufactured arms in their operations within Pakistan in recent months.
Security sources have revealed that militants involved in the recent Turbat attack were equipped with US-made weaponry, including an M32 multi-shot grenade launcher and M16A4 assault rifle. Similarly, on January 27 of this year, US-made weapons were recovered from a terrorist named Naik Minallah in North Waziristan.
Prior to this, similar weaponry was seized from militants responsible for the terrorist attack in Sambaza, Zhob, on January 22.
Furthermore, foreign-made weapons were seized from militants at the Pak-Afghan border on January 19, and earlier on December 29 last year, security forces recovered AK-47 and M4 Carbine assault rifles along with ammunition from terrorists in Mir Ali.
In December of the same year, militants utilized night vision goggles and US-made assault rifles during their attack in Dera Ismail Khan’s Daraban area on December 12.
Despite customs and security officials intercepting modern US-made weapons from a vehicle entering Pakistan from Afghanistan on December 13, terrorists executed another assault in Tank on December 15 using advanced US weaponry.
Additionally, militants employed US-made weapons in attacks on two Pakistani checkposts in Chitral and Mianwali airbase on September 6 and November 4, respectively.
In July 2023, TTP militants utilized US-made weapons in an attack on the Zhob Garrison.
According to EurAsian Times, TTP militants continue to use US-made weapons in carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
This report is unsurprising, as the Pentagon itself has confirmed that out of the 427,300 weapons provided to Afghan forces by Washington, approximately 300,000 weapons were “left behind” when US forces withdrew from the conflict-ridden country in August 2021.
source : globalvillagespace