Armed with the U.S.-abandoned weaponry in Afghanistan, the groups Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are wreaking devastation in different regions of Pakistan. The country has made remarkable sacrifices in the war against terrorism by sacrificing lives and billions of dollars. Almost three years ago, the US pulled out its forces from Afghanistan and triggered a spree of horrible terrorism.
Since 2021, terrorist aggression in Pakistan’s border areas has increased, with The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP), TTP and BLA manipulating the power vacuum and misapplying the stockpile of leftover US weapons in Afghanistan. It is estimated that over two dozen terrorist outfits are currently working from Afghanistan, making it the immediate recruitment epicentre for these outfits.
The Biden government’s chaotic withdrawal did not just depart behind arms but also formed a terror stockpile that exacerbated regional instability and contributed to the weapons black market, boosting terrorism across South Asia, especially Pakistan.
The present US President, Donald Trump, condemned the conclusion to leave behind military gear worth $7 billion and branded it a “stupid” push by the Biden regime. The usefulness of American spears by TTP, BLA and other terrorists confirms Pakistan’s rising worries over illegal arms flow from the Afghan flank.
Due to the non-cooperation of Kabul, the return of weapons appears unlikely. However, the interim Afghan Government (IAG) should be forced to operate against terror groups present on Afghan soil and preserve good ties with its neighbours. The existence of US-made weapons in Taliban hands increases their expeditionary purposes, deepening defect lines in an already weak regional security landscape.
The IAG’s reluctance to address these situations is evident in its rejection to take significant action, whether it is answering Pakistan’s demands to deny the TTP or the US’s calls for the return of leftover weapons. This problem requires urgent engagement, especially from the United States and requires a synchronised practice rooted in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) executed by the UN General Assembly.
The world community, especially the US, bears the primary blame for carrying the IAG responsible, including charging a limitation regime in case the IAG fails to honour its commitment under the Doha Accord.
