LAHORE: A recent CNN report on February 3, 2026 stated that weapons left behind after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan are now directly contributing to terrorism in Pakistan.
The report, citing former head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko, confirms that nearly 300,000 weapons were abandoned in Afghanistan. These arms were neither secured nor effectively tracked.
The CNN notes that the unchecked proliferation of these weapons has significantly altered the nature of terrorist violence. Groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are reportedly using US-made rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and night-vision equipment.
Pakistani security forces have recovered multiple such weapons during counterterrorism operations, many bearing official US government ownership markings. Weapons with US stamps were shown to CNN reporters.
According to the report, this advanced weaponry poses a serious operational challenge for Pakistan’s security forces, particularly in Waziristan and Balochistan, where militants now have enhanced night-fighting and long-range strike capabilities. In 2025 alone, over 1,200 civilians and security personnel were killed in terrorist attacks.
The circulation of abandoned US weapons has created tangible security consequences for Pakistan, raising questions about post-withdrawal responsibility, accountability and wider regional impact.
