Arshad Mahmood Awan
Pakistan is once again confronting the deadly consequences of a long and complex war next door. The recent attacks in Islamabad and Wana have revived an urgent debate: who is supplying advanced weapons to militants operating from Afghan soil? The state believes the involvement of Afghanistan-based terrorists is clear. This makes the issue of abandoned foreign military equipment in Afghanistan even more alarming.
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Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations recently raised this concern at the UN Security Council. He warned that many weapons seized at the Pak-Afghan border were traced back to foreign stockpiles left behind during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. These arms, he said, are now being used by non-state actors, terrorist organisations, and criminal networks.
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This is not a small matter. When the United States decided to leave Afghanistan quickly, billions of dollars’ worth of equipment was abandoned. Some of it was destroyed, but much of it was not. Weapons and gear were lost, looted, or sold on the black market. Reports suggest that groups like the TTP, the BLA, and ETIM were among the buyers.
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Afghanistan has a long history as a dumping ground for weapons. During the Afghan jihad, guns and ammunition poured in from the US, Arab states, and Pakistan. Over the decades, these arms shifted from one group to another. After 2021, the abandoned American arsenal has created the most serious danger yet.
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For Pakistan, this situation is disastrous. Modern weapons enhance the capability of militant groups. They make attacks more lethal and more frequent. They create instability in border districts. They threaten national security. Leaving behind this equipment was irresponsible, but recovering it now is nearly impossible.
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This brings the focus back to the Afghan Taliban. They insist that no anti-Pakistan militants operate from their territory. They deny the presence of groups like the TTP. Yet evidence repeatedly contradicts these claims. When militants armed with sophisticated American equipment carry out attacks inside Pakistan, denialism becomes dangerous. Worse, it signals a lack of willingness to control these actors.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan wants a peaceful neighbourhood. That desire is genuine. But peace is not possible if one state refuses to act against groups targeting its neighbour. Peace is not achievable if deadly weapons continue to circulate freely among terrorists. Peace cannot be maintained when modern arms cross borders more easily than refugees.
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The road ahead is difficult. Pakistan must continue to raise this issue internationally. The world must recognise that abandoned weapons threaten regional and global stability. The Afghan Taliban must accept their responsibility to restrict militant access to these weapons and prevent cross-border terrorism. Without such steps, the cycle of violence will intensify. And the dream of regional peace will remain far out of reach.
