Left-behind US weapons in Afghanistan fueling terror attacks in Pakistan: FO

The Foreign Office has expressed serious concerns over the advanced military equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the US troop withdrawal in August 2021, which has reportedly been used by terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in attacks on Pakistani soil. .FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan highlighted the safety risks posed by these weapons, stressing that they have become a source of concern for the security of both Pakistan and its citizens.In a statement on Wednesday, Khan reiterated that Pakistan had continuously urged the authorities in Kabul to take all necessary measures to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.The US military equipment, which includes aircraft, air-to-ground munitions, vehicles, and communication gear, was left behind in the aftermath of the US-led coalition’s withdrawal.The Taliban quickly seized control of much of the military hardware, further exacerbating Pakistan’s security challenges.The issue gained attention after former US President Donald Trump, in a recent public rally, threatened to cut off financial aid to Afghanistan if the Taliban did not return the military equipment.”If we’re going to pay billions of dollars a year, tell them we’re not going to give them the money unless they give back our military equipment,” Trump stated, reiterating his administration’s stance on the matter.However, the Taliban has reportedly refused to return the equipment and instead urged the US to supply them with more advanced weaponry to combat Da’ish.The US Department of Defense reported in 2022 that $7 billion worth of military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan, much of which was rapidly seized by the Taliban fighters as they swept across the country.While US forces made efforts to dismantle or destroy some of their machinery in the final weeks of the pullout, a significant amount of military hardware still fell into Taliban hands.The chaotic nature of the US withdrawal has been heavily criticized. While it was during Trump’s administration that the US signed a deal with the Taliban for troop withdrawal, it was President Joe Biden’s administration that carried out the agreement.The sudden collapse of the Afghan government and the swift retaking of power by the Taliban in August 2021 were marred by scenes of chaos, culminating in a deadly suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport, which claimed the lives of 13 American troops and dozens of Afghan civilians.