RAWALPINDI: In a disturbing revelation, evidence has emerged indicating the utilisation of foreign weapons predominantly American-made in recent terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil.
The Pakistani army, engaged in a prolonged battle against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the past two decades, now faces a growing threat stemming from the influx of arms from neighboring Afghanistan.
The TTP, known to harbor safe havens in Afghanistan, has exploited this proximity to acquire large quantities of arms, left behind by the United States. This influx of weaponry has dealt a severe blow to the region’s security, resulting in a surge in terrorist activities within Pakistan.
In a chilling sequence of events, the Baloch Liberation Army targeted Frontier Corps (FC) camps in Nushki and Panjgur districts, employing the same arsenal of weapons in February 2022.
The alarming trend continued with the attack on Zhob Garrison on July 12, 2023, where TTP militants were found wielding American weapons.
September 6, 2023, witnessed another brazen assault by TTP terrorists armed with the latest American weapons on two army check posts in Chitral. The aftermath of the November 4 Mianwali Air Base attack revealed a cache of foreign-made weapons, including RPG-7s, AK-74s, M-4s, and M-16/A4 rifles in the possession of the attackers.
Highlighting the sophistication of their arsenal, terrorists equipped with night vision goggles and American rifles struck in the Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan on December 12. The most recent incident in Tank on December 15 claimed the lives of three police personnel and five terrorists, showcasing the use of modern American weapons such as M16/A2 rifles, HE grenades, and AK-47s.
Compounding the issue, customs and security forces intercepted a vehicle on December 13, discovering hidden caches of modern American weaponry, including M4 rifles and grenades, concealed within onion sacks coming from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
The revelations cast a shadow on the claims of the Afghan Transitional Government, which had asserted not to use such weapons against its own land, Pakistan. Reports suggest that the United States delivered a staggering 427,300 combat weapons to the Afghan military, with 300,000 remaining at the time of withdrawal, contributing to a surge in terrorism in the region over the last two years.
The Pentagon disclosed that the U.S. provided $18.6 billion in equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces between 2005 and August 2021.
Post-withdrawal, these weapons have unfortunately fallen into the hands of the TTP, enabling them to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks. These unsettling developments raise concerns not only about the Afghan regime’s role in arming the TTP but also its alleged provision of safe havens for other terrorist organizations, painting a grim picture of the security landscape in the region.
