Pakistan has reiterated its concerns over the weapons left behind by the United States in Afghanistan following its rapid withdrawal in 2021, the Foreign Office stated on Friday.
According to a 2022 report by the US Department of Defense, military equipment worth $7 billion was abandoned in Afghanistan, which was swiftly taken over by Taliban forces as they gained control of the country.
During the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized that these “advanced weapons” were being utilized by militants in attacks on Pakistani soil.
“We have urged both the international community and Afghan authorities to address this pressing issue,” he stated.
Shafqat further expressed Pakistan’s desire for a cooperative relationship with Afghanistan. However, he noted that the presence of terrorist sanctuaries within Afghan territory remained a significant obstacle to fostering progress between the two nations.
He confirmed that Pakistan would continue engaging in diplomatic discussions with Afghan officials to resolve security concerns.
Regarding the temporary closure of the Torkham border crossing, the spokesperson explained that operational challenges necessitated the decision.
“The Afghan authorities attempted to construct a border post on Pakistan’s side without prior coordination,” he said, stressing that Islamabad had encouraged Kabul to resolve such matters through bilateral forums like the Joint Coordination Committee instead of unilateral measures.
He expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.
Addressing another inquiry, the spokesperson confirmed that the F-16 oversight program was an integral part of Pakistan-US defense cooperation.
“Pakistan values the continuity of this program,” he stated, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defense relations with the United States.
In January, the Foreign Office had highlighted that the unchecked proliferation of these abandoned weapons posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s security.
“These arms, left behind following the US military’s withdrawal in August 2021, have been exploited by terrorist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to orchestrate attacks within Pakistan,” the FO spokesperson had previously stated.
Pakistan has consistently called on the interim Afghan government to implement strict measures to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of militant groups.
