Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has welcomed the United States’ decision to retrieve military weapons left behind in Afghanistan, stating that the abandoned advanced weaponry has fuelled terrorism in the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Asif highlighted the U.S. commitment to reclaiming these weapons, calling it a positive step. He asserted that the rise in terrorist attacks in Pakistan is directly linked to the use of American weapons now in militant hands.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stressed the need to recover American military equipment from the Taliban. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry echoed this position on Thursday, stating its full support for the U.S. initiative. Additionally, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister backed the decision in discussions with the U.S. National Security Advisor.
Addressing the spike in terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Asif blamed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ex-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and former ISI Chief General Faiz Hameed for supporting militant groups.
He reiterated that Pakistan remains the biggest victim of terrorism and continues to lead efforts against extremist threats.
Pakistani officials have long accused the Afghan Taliban of backing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alleging that TTP militants are using U.S. weapons to threaten Pakistan’s security.
These statements come amid growing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban. While Islamabad pushes for the retrieval of U.S. weaponry, the Taliban have rejected any possibility of returning the arms, insisting that they are “war spoils” and will not be surrendered under any circumstances.
