Aik News:A major investigation by U.S. news network CNN has revealed that American weapons left behind in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal are being used by terrorist groups to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, significantly escalating regional security threats.
According to CNN’s report, the weapons were originally supplied by the United States to enhance the capabilities of the former Afghan National Army. However, during the U.S. withdrawal, a vast cache of military equipment was left behind. Former Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) head John Sopko stated that nearly 300,000 U.S.-supplied weapons remained in Afghanistan at the time of the withdrawal.
The report warns that terrorists’ access to these advanced American weapons poses a serious threat not only to Pakistan but also to Afghanistan’s other neighbors, including China and Iran. CNN noted that the availability of modern U.S. arms has led to a marked increase in both the intensity and sophistication of terrorist attacks, creating major obstacles for counterterrorism operations.
CNN further reported that militants belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are actively using U.S.manufactured weapons. These include M-4 and M-16 assault rifles, M-249 machine guns, Remington sniper rifles, and advanced night vision devices.
In August 2025, the United States officially designated the BLA as a terrorist organization. Pakistani security forces have recovered American-marked weapons from terrorists during operations and shared this evidence with CNN. Officials say the access to advanced arms and night vision equipment has significantly enhanced militant operational capabilities.
The report highlights that during recent terrorist attacks in South Waziristan and Balochistan, militants used sophisticated U.S.-origin weapons left behind in Afghanistan. As a result, the presence of these weapons has intensified security concerns along Pakistan’s border regions, posing an ongoing challenge for law enforcement and military forces.
