The recent seizure of US-made weapons and ammunition at the Torkham Border by Pakistani authorities highlights a haunting and unresolved legacy of the US-led war in Afghanistan. This discovery—valued at approximately Rs. 3.5 crores and including M4 rifles, magazines, and cartridges—reveals the enduring impact of the conflict that has left behind vast stockpiles of arms. The smuggling of such weapons into Pakistan serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Afghanistan under Taliban rule and the potential risks to regional stability. As the cache’s origins are likely tied to the remnants of US military equipment left in Afghanistan after the chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces, its implications ripple far beyond national borders, touching upon security concerns in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the broader region.
For over two decades, Afghanistan was the epicenter of an intense military conflict. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and its allies initiated a campaign to dismantle the Taliban regime and combat Al-Qaeda, launching a prolonged war that reshaped the geopolitical landscape of South Asia. While the war officially ended with the US withdrawal in August 2021, the legacy of that conflict is far from over.
When US and coalition forces left Afghanistan, they abandoned vast quantities of military equipment. Some of this weaponry inevitably fell into the hands of the Afghan Taliban as they swiftly regained control of the country. This included advanced rifles, night-vision goggles, armored vehicles, and a large cache of ammunition. The failure to secure or destroy these supplies created a precarious situation, enabling armed groups in Afghanistan to potentially utilize these weapons for nefarious purposes.
Fast forward to the present, and the implications of this oversight are clear. The weapons recently seized at the Torkham Border illustrate how the arms left behind by the US continue to have a destabilizing effect on Afghanistan’s neighbors, particularly Pakistan. These seized arms may only be a small part of a much larger flow of weapons moving across porous borders, fueling conflict and enabling insurgents and extremist groups to sustain their activities.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have struggled to establish effective governance. While they have declared victory over the US-backed Afghan government, the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan remains tenuous. Their ability to impose law and order is compromised by internal divisions, economic challenges, and resistance from various factions, including militant groups like ISIS-K and opposition groups such as the National Resistance Front.
The resurgence of these illicit activities, such as arms smuggling, underscores the Taliban’s limited authority and the porous nature of their control over Afghanistan’s borders. Although the Taliban publicly claim to oppose terrorism, the flow of weapons into Pakistan suggests that they either lack the capacity or the will to curtail these activities. These smuggled arms are not only remnants of the US presence but also serve as symbols of the Taliban’s inability to secure Afghanistan’s territory against traffickers, militants, and criminal enterprises.
The transfer of these weapons has serious ramifications for regional security. It reinforces concerns that Afghanistan, under the Taliban, remains a breeding ground for instability, and raises questions about the true extent of the Taliban’s governance capacity. The lack of centralized control over weapons and borders further amplifies fears that Afghanistan could once again become a launching pad for global terrorism.
Perhaps most concerning about this seizure is the potential connection between the Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistan. The TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, has long been a thorn in Pakistan’s side, with its insurgency fueled by years of discontent and radicalization within Pakistan’s tribal areas.
The rise in violence perpetrated by the TTP in recent years coincides with the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. There have been credible reports that the TTP has found safe havens within Afghan territory, and with these sanctuaries comes the possibility of increased access to advanced weaponry. The fact that US-made weapons, which were originally provided to Afghan forces to combat the Taliban, are now making their way into the hands of insurgents like the TTP highlights a dangerous irony of the post-withdrawal landscape.
The potential link between the Taliban and the TTP is troubling for several reasons. Firstly, it suggests that the Afghan Taliban may be tacitly supporting, or at the very least, turning a blind eye to the TTP’s activities. By doing so, they are enabling a group that actively threatens Pakistan’s internal security. Whether this support is intentional or incidental, the result is the same—armed militants with sophisticated weaponry now have the means to challenge Pakistani forces more effectively. Secondly, this situation places the Taliban in a position of leverage over Pakistan, potentially allowing them to use the TTP as a bargaining chip in negotiations or to exert pressure on Islamabad.
The transfer of arms to the TTP could also be part of a broader Taliban strategy to assert their influence in the region. By equipping groups like the TTP, the Taliban may be attempting to create instability in Pakistan as a means of safeguarding their own regime. Pakistan, historically, has had a complicated relationship with the Taliban, supporting them at certain points while opposing them at others. The Taliban could be using the TTP as a tool to remind Pakistan of their importance in maintaining regional stability and as a way to prevent Islamabad from pursuing policies that undermine the Taliban government in Kabul.
The potential for such proxy conflicts could lead to a destabilization of the entire region, with Afghanistan once again serving as a focal point for terrorist networks and insurgent movements. The ability of militant groups to operate freely within Afghanistan, with access to US-made weapons, poses a direct threat to regional security. Moreover, it reinforces the perception that Afghanistan remains a hotbed of extremist activity and cross-border terrorism, complicating efforts for peace and stability.
The proliferation of US-made weapons, in the hands of the TTP and other extremist groups, threatens to exacerbate an already volatile situation in South Asia. Pakistan has long been grappling with internal security challenges posed by the TTP, but the availability of advanced weaponry could escalate the frequency and intensity of attacks on its soil. This situation also complicates Pakistan’s efforts to maintain a balance between managing its relationship with the Taliban and protecting its own national security.
Beyond Pakistan, the ripple effects of this crisis are being felt across the region. Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Iran, China, and the Central Asian republics, are all watching with concern as weapons from Afghanistan fuel instability and violence. The broader concern is that Afghanistan will once again become a safe haven for terrorist organizations that threaten global security.
The seizure of US-made weapons at the Torkham Border is a chilling reminder of the international community’s failure to address the root causes of conflict in Afghanistan. Despite the immense human and financial resources poured into Afghanistan during the US-led intervention, the country remains deeply unstable, and the arms left behind by foreign forces continue to haunt the region.
The continued presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and the proliferation of weapons across its borders also raise alarms on the global stage. Afghanistan has long been a breeding ground for international terrorism, and there is a genuine concern that groups like ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, and other extremists could benefit from the chaos and further destabilize regions far beyond South Asia.
The inability of the international community to effectively contain the spread of weapons and combat the rise of militancy in Afghanistan is a significant failure. Without robust international cooperation, the threat of global terrorism will remain a persistent issue. The seizure of US-made weapons in Pakistan is a stark reminder that conflicts in one part of the world can have far-reaching consequences, threatening peace and stability on a much larger scale.
The discovery of US-made weapons at the Torkham Border is not just an isolated incident but part of a larger narrative of insecurity, governance failures, and the aftermath of war. It underscores the fragility of Afghanistan under the Taliban and highlights the challenges faced by the region in containing cross-border militancy and arms trafficking.
For Pakistan, the risk posed by an emboldened TTP with advanced weapons is a direct threat to its national security, but the implications extend far beyond. The entire region is at risk of increased instability, violence, and terrorism. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive international effort that goes beyond mere military solutions. It demands a concerted push for peace, stability, and governance in Afghanistan, as well as stronger border controls, intelligence-sharing, and economic support for the region. Only through coordinated efforts can the “ghost” of Afghanistan’s long conflict finally be laid to rest.