Islamabad has raised concerns at the United Nations over terrorist groups in Afghanistan gaining access to abandoned weapons, warning that these arms pose a serious threat to peace and security not only in Pakistan but across the wider region.
Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, addressed the Security Council’s open debate on small arms on Monday, emphasizing the dangers posed by stockpiles of sophisticated arms and ammunition left behind in Afghanistan. He cited findings from the UN Secretary-General’s reports, noting the presence of these weapons in illegal markets and the potential for cross-border smuggling.
Ambassador Iftikhar said Pakistan has “credible information of attempts to smuggle these arms to neighboring countries for terrorist activities,” highlighting that weapons confiscated at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border often trace back to stockpiles abandoned by foreign forces and sold illegally within Afghanistan. He warned that the movement of unmarked and unregistered weapons fuels non-state armed groups, terrorist networks, and criminal gangs, severely undermining regional stability.
The envoy noted that groups such as ISIL-K, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade have used these weapons against civilians and law enforcement in Pakistan, resulting in thousands of casualties. He called for stronger international efforts to prevent terrorist access to illicit arms in Afghanistan and urged Afghan authorities to adhere to their international obligations regarding arms control.
Ambassador Iftikhar further stressed that small arms and light weapons have become the “instruments of choice” for non-state actors, threatening national security, hampering counter-terrorism operations, and endangering civilian lives. He added that illicit weapons also hinder development, contribute to human rights abuses, and undermine overall peace and security in affected regions.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the UN’s Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, emphasizing that addressing the issue requires a balanced approach that considers both the security needs of states and the necessity to curb illicit arms supply and demand globally.
The ambassador highlighted that the departure of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 left behind large quantities of weapons and military equipment, which have since been acquired by the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups, including the TTP. He recalled instances such as the March attack on the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan, where an American-made M4A1 rifle, part of the US weapons supplied to Afghanistan, was recovered at the scene.
Pakistan has repeatedly called for a coordinated international campaign to recover weapons from terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan, stressing that the continued availability of advanced arms on Afghan soil represents a profound and ongoing threat to the country’s security and regional stability.
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