An investigation by The Washington Post has revealed that billions of dollars’ worth of American-supplied military equipment, abandoned by Afghan forces, has fallen into the hands of Pakistani militants, significantly bolstering their capabilities and fueling ongoing insurgencies.
The investigation was given access to at least 63 US-provided weapons, including M16 and M4 rifles, seized from militants in Pakistan. These weapons, confirmed by the U.S. Army and Pentagon, were originally supplied to Afghan forces during the 20-year war.
The discovery includes weapons used in high-profile attacks, such as the deadly March 11 train hijacking that claimed at least 26 lives. Pakistani officials also displayed U.S. night-vision goggles, though their origin couldn’t be independently verified by the Washington Post.
The influx of advanced weaponry, including night-vision devices and thermal optics, has dramatically escalated the threat posed by groups like the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and Baloch separatists. Pakistani security forces, outgunned and outmatched technologically, are struggling to contain the surge in violence. One special forces constable, critically injured in a militant attack, highlighted the insurgents’ technological advantage in the report, stating, “They could see us, but we couldn’t see them.”
The US military’s record-keeping on the equipment provided to Afghan forces has been criticized as inconsistent, exacerbating the problem following the hasty withdrawal. While the Pentagon claims the weapons were the responsibility of the Afghan government once transferred, the sheer volume of equipment left behind—including over a quarter-million rifles and thousands of night-vision goggles—has created a bonanza for insurgent groups. These weapons are readily available in illicit arms markets along the porous Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where prices have plummeted since the Taliban takeover.
The Pakistani government has expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting the security risks posed by the presence of advanced U.S. weaponry in the hands of militants. While President Trump previously demanded the return of the equipment, the Taliban government has rejected these demands, claiming ownership of the weapons. Analysts warn of a potential return to a period of heightened terrorism in Pakistan, mirroring the intense violence experienced between 2009 and 2014.
