Pakistan's Concern Over Terrorist Groups' Access to Weapons Left Behind in Afghanistan

Jumhuri Mudara: The Pakistani government has expressed concern about terrorist groups gaining access to weapons left behind in Afghanistan and has called on the United Nations to prevent these groups from accessing the abandoned weapons.

According to reports from Pakistani media, this concern was raised by Syed Atif Raza, Pakistan's mission advisor to the United Nations.

Geo News, citing this Pakistani official, wrote, "Armed terrorist groups have access to billions of dollars worth of illegal weapons left behind in Afghanistan, which are being used in violence against civilians and Pakistani armed forces."

This concern comes as a new report published by the *Small Arms Survey* based in Geneva highlights that *illegal trafficking of small arms* continues along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Geo News reports that weapons left over from the NATO presence in Afghanistan, as well as from the former Soviet forces, are widely available in informal markets in Pakistan's tribal areas.

The media refers to a report from the international organization Small Arms Survey, which states that between 2022 and 2024, a significant portion of these weapons has been trafficked from Afghanistan's eastern provinces into Pakistan.

The report from the Small Arms Survey, titled "Documenting Weapon Access in Afghanistan," emphasizes the ongoing arms trafficking in the region. It finds that weapons from the Soviet and NATO eras, despite the Taliban's efforts to control them, are still available in informal markets.

According to the report, the ongoing arms trafficking from Afghanistan to Pakistan is facilitated by local Taliban commanders, which itself indicates corruption and the group's inability to prevent illegal activities.

The findings of the report show that these weapons are regularly placed in the hands of armed groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda.

The Small Arms Survey organization has confirmed that the lack of effective border control, absence of transparency, and structural corruption have facilitated the arms trafficking process in the region.

The report states that despite the Taliban's claims of combating arms trafficking, commanders of the group facilitate or profit from the illegal trade of weapons.

Meanwhile, the advisor to Pakistan's mission at the United Nations has said that concerns about armed groups' access to modern weapons are increasing. He stressed that Pakistan is particularly concerned about the acquisition and use of modern and sophisticated illegal weapons by terrorist groups, such as the TTP, operating in Afghanistan.