The Islamic Emirate has rejected Pakistan’s claims about US weapons in Afghanistan posing regional threats.
Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claimed on Wednesday, that weapons left behind by U.S. forces in Afghanistan have fallen into the hands of “terrorist groups”, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who are now using them to threaten the security of Pakistan.
He added that Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Islamic Emirate de-facto government to ensure that these weapons do not fall into the hands of others.
In response, the Islamic Emirate has dismissed Ali Khan’s statements as baseless, asserting that no individual or group has access to the weapons left behind by U.S. forces.
Hamdullah Fetrat, deputy spokesperson for the de-facto government in Afghanistan, emphasized that the Islamic Emirate does not allow the misuse of any weapons left in Afghanistan against other countries. “All military weapons and equipment have been properly relocated and are being securely maintained. No one is allowed to misuse them. All such claims and rumors are baseless, and we strongly reject them,” he said.
Pakistan has repeatedly claimed over the past three years that U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan has helped bolster terrorist groups—claims which the Islamic Emirate has consistently denied.
Some political and military affairs experts argue that Pakistan should provide evidence to the Islamic Emirate to support its claims and address its concerns through dialogue.
Yosuf Aminzazi, a political and military affairs expert, said: “The weapons and equipment belong to the people of Afghanistan; Pakistan’s concerns are unfounded, and the Islamic Emirate should address these issues diplomatically.”
Sediq Mansour, another political expert, stresses that the only way for the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan to address mutual concerns is through dialogue. He added, “The Islamic Emirate should pursue healthy diplomacy, particularly with Pakistan, in dealing with these concerns.”
Previously, the leader of the Islamic Emirate issued an eight-point decree stating that the authority to distribute weapons and other military equipment falls within his office, and that the decree was issued to safeguard military equipment and prevent its unnecessary use.
