A report published by an American journal has revealed that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is using advanced US-made weapons left behind in Afghanistan to conduct terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. The findings have renewed serious concerns over regional security, cross-border terrorism, and the long-term consequences of the United States’ military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

According to the American journal The Geopolitics, TTP militants have gained access to sophisticated American weapons that were abandoned in Afghanistan following the collapse of the former Afghan government in 2021. These weapons are now allegedly being used in attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal districts.

The report states that TTP, also referred to by Pakistani authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij, has intensified its violent campaign in recent years. The group has carried out numerous terrorist operations, including ambushes, suicide attacks, and targeted killings, aimed at destabilizing Pakistan’s internal security. The availability of modern weapons has significantly enhanced the group’s operational capacity, making attacks more lethal and harder to counter.

The Geopolitics highlights that US military equipment worth more than 7 billion dollars remains in Afghanistan. This includes assault rifles such as M4 and M16, night vision devices, advanced optics, communication equipment, and other military-grade hardware. Such weapons, originally supplied to Afghan security forces, are now reportedly in the hands of various militant groups operating in and from Afghanistan.

The journal notes that these weapons are not only being used directly by militant organizations but are also being sold through black markets in Afghanistan. Terrorist networks are allegedly purchasing American-made arms through these illicit channels, further spreading instability across the region. The porous borders and weak enforcement mechanisms have made it easier for such weapons to find their way into neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan.

Security experts quoted in the report warn that the proliferation of advanced weapons among non-state actors poses a long-term threat not only to Pakistan but to regional and even global security. Night vision equipment, for instance, has given militants a tactical advantage during nighttime operations, increasing the risk to security personnel conducting counterterrorism missions.

Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the presence of TTP leadership and fighters on Afghan soil. Islamabad maintains that the group enjoys safe havens in Afghanistan and launches cross-border attacks into Pakistan. Pakistani officials argue that the continued availability of US weapons has emboldened TTP militants and increased the scale and sophistication of their attacks.

In recent statements, Pakistani authorities have said they possess concrete evidence showing that terrorists operating from Afghanistan are using American weapons. Security sources claim that weapons recovered after terrorist attacks inside Pakistan have been traced back to US military stockpiles left behind in Afghanistan. According to these sources, serial numbers, weapon models, and technical specifications provide clear proof of their origin.

The issue has also become a major diplomatic challenge between Pakistan and Afghanistan. While Afghan Taliban authorities have, at times, acknowledged the presence of banned groups such as TTP in Afghanistan, Pakistan insists that mere acknowledgment is not enough. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to take concrete and verifiable action against TTP and other militant organizations.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that relations between the two countries cannot normalize unless Afghanistan stops the patronage and shelter of TTP militants. He has stressed that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory remains one of the biggest obstacles to regional peace and cooperation.

The American journal’s report also raises questions about the responsibility of the United States and the international community. Analysts argue that the sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan without securing military equipment created a dangerous power vacuum. The unchecked spread of advanced weaponry among militant groups is now being felt far beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

International observers believe that the issue requires coordinated global action. This includes mechanisms to trace, recover, or neutralize abandoned weapons, stronger border security cooperation, and diplomatic engagement with Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from exploiting Afghan territory.

For Pakistan, the stakes are particularly high. The country has suffered thousands of casualties due to terrorism over the past two decades and has invested heavily in counterterrorism operations. The resurgence of TTP violence, fueled by access to modern weapons, threatens to reverse hard-earned security gains.

In conclusion, the report by The Geopolitics reinforces Pakistan’s long-standing position that terrorism in the region is being fueled by the availability of US weapons left in Afghanistan. As TTP continues to target Pakistani forces and civilians, the issue has become not just a bilateral concern but a broader regional and international security challenge. Without decisive action, experts warn, the spread of such weapons could continue to destabilize South Asia for years to come.