Abandoned US weapons: repeating history of terror

The abrupt withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan in 2021 did not merely mark the end of a 20-year-long war but also left behind a legacy of instability, terror, and an unchecked proliferation of sophisticated weaponry. After assuming office, President Donald Trump criticised the Biden administration's decision to leave military equipment worth billions of dollars in Afghanistan, calling it "stupid". While his concerns are valid, the issue extends far beyond financial loss - it has fuelled regional instability, strengthened terror networks, and created an illicit arms market that now directly threatens Pakistan and South Asia at large.

The chaotic nature of the US withdrawal in 2021 mirrors the mistakes of the past. After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, the US also abandoned the war-torn country, having achieved its Cold War objective of pushing back Soviet influence. In doing so, it left Afghanistan vulnerable to internal strife, warlordism, and the rise of radical militant groups, including the Taliban. This power vacuum ultimately led to the emergence of terrorist figures like Osama bin Laden, who found sanctuary in Afghanistan, laying the foundation for global terrorism.

Now, history has repeated itself. In 2021, as US troops hastily exited, billions of dollars worth of military hardware - small arms, armoured vehicles, drones, and even aircraft - were left behind. Instead of these assets being secured or destroyed, they fell into the hands of the TTP, ISKP and ISIS, transforming them from an insurgent group into a well-equipped force. More alarmingly, the illicit flow of these weapons has not been contained within Afghanistan; they have spread across borders, enabling militant groups to wage deadly campaigns, particularly in Pakistan's border regions.

Since the US withdrawal, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in terrorist activities, particularly from TTP, ISKP and BLA. These groups, emboldened by the unregulated flow of sophisticated US-made arms, have launched a series of deadly attacks, further destabilising Pakistan's security landscape. Pakistani security forces have recovered US-made weapons from TTP militants in recent operations, substantiating concerns that the arms left behind by the US are now actively fueling terrorism across South Asia.

The interim Afghan government (IAG) has repeatedly dismissed requests from Pakistan to rein in the TTP. Similarly, the IAG remains unresponsive to US concerns over the return of abandoned weaponry.

While Trump's demand for the return of US weapons is a fair criticism of the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal, expecting the Taliban to comply is impractical and rhetorical at best.

Instead of calling for an unlikely weapons retrieval, the US and its allies must push for accountability from the Taliban through performance-based obligations. The IAG should be pressured to ensure internal stability, curb cross-border terrorism, and foster good relations with its neighbours. The US should also take responsibility for its actions by adopting a long-term regional strategy rather than repeating the cycle of engagement and abandonment.

The presence of US-made weapons in the hands of militant groups should be a wake-up call for the international community. The US must take proactive steps to counter the unintended fallout. This includes working closely with Pakistan and other regional stakeholders to curb the illicit arms trade and counter the resurgence of terrorism.

Additionally, the international community must hold the IAG accountable for harbouring and enabling terrorist groups. A passive approach will only embolden militants and exacerbate security threats in South Asia. The US, along with regional partners, should establish stricter monitoring mechanisms, intelligence-sharing networks, and targeted counterterrorism operations to neutralise the growing threat.

Leaving behind a "terror arsenal" has not only emboldened the Taliban but also enabled militant groups to wreak havoc across Pakistan and the broader region. Real solutions lie not in unrealistic calls for weapon recovery but in enforcing accountability, ensuring regional cooperation, and preventing history from repeating itself yet again.