Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, has warned that the rise in ISIS-K activity in Afghanistan is a direct consequence of U.S. weapons left behind following NATO’s withdrawal.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, Nebenzya criticised the international community for failing to address the issue of terrorist groups acquiring advanced U.S. military equipment.
The Russian envoy argued that the hasty withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan led to a large cache of weapons falling into the hands of ISIS.
Referring to the escalating activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, he stressed “The situation in Afghanistan cannot be ignored.”
Nebenzya also accused the United States and its Western allies of globally distributing weapons that ultimately end up in the hands of terrorist organisations. He claimed there is a direct link between the abandoned U.S. weapons in Afghanistan and the increasing ISIS attacks.
Russia is among the few nations publicly expressing concern over militant groups obtaining advanced weaponry left behind by the former Afghan army, which had been supported by the United States.
India has also raised alarms over this issue. Indian security officials recently discovered U.S.-made M4 rifles in the possession of Pakistan-backed insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 12 November last year, India Today reported that three militants killed in a clash in Akhnoor were found with U.S.-manufactured firearms, prompting an investigation into how these weapons reached from Afghanistan to the region.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously expressed his intention to retrieve American military equipment left in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban has refused to return these weapons, declaring them “spoils of war.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has also raised concerns about the presence of advanced U.S. weaponry in Afghanistan, warning that such arms pose a direct threat to Pakistan’s security.
On 29 January, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the presence of these weapons remains a serious concern for Pakistan’s national security and the safety of its citizens.
Following a series of ISIS attacks in Iran and Russia, as well as disrupted terror plots in Europe and the U.S., the United Nations Security Council convened on Monday to assess the evolving threat posed by ISIS.
Council members expressed growing alarm over the expansion of ISIS operations, particularly across Asia and Africa, calling for stronger international efforts to curb the group’s resurgence.
