Weapons left behind by US in Afghanistan are used against Pakistan: PM Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar

Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar has said that weapons left behind by the US in Afghanistan are being used against Pakistan. His comments come a day after the US said that it has not left behind any weapons following its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The Pakistani premier also highlighted that American-made weapons are being sold in the black market not just in Pakistan but in other Gulf nations too. On Tuesday, US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “We are aware of the reports of multiple attacks on Pakistani security forces and facilities earlier in November and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims, but I want to be very clear about this: There was no equipment left behind by American forces during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.” “I will also add that while large-scale military grant assistance remains suspended, we have partnered with Pakistan for more than 40 years to support law enforcement, the rule of law, counternarcotics efforts, and other areas in the security space, and will continue to value our bilateral relationship, Patel added. However, Kakar refused America’s rejection saying its “irrelevant” as there is objective evidence that confirms that these weapons are making their way into the black market and are being used too. The prime minister also said Pakistan has been witnessing a rise in terror incidents since the Taliban took charge of Afghanistan in 2021. “After the establishment of the interim Afghan government in August 2021, we had a strong hope that there would be long-term peace in Afghanistan. […] Strict action would be taken against Pakistan-opposing groups, especially the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan, and they would absolutely not be allowed to use Afghan soil against Pakistan,” Kakar said at a press conference in Islamabad. With inputs from PTI