PESHAWAR: American weapons used by Fitna al Khwarij militants have been displayed, for the first time, following military operations across various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
During the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, military equipment worth $7 billion was left behind. This stockpile was later acquired by the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP).
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Security sources revealed that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, had reportedly funded some of the advanced US weapons purchases.
According to officials, these weapons were recovered during recent operations by the Pakistan Army and other security forces. The captured arms clearly bear markings indicating ownership by the US government. These weapons had been abandoned by US and NATO forces in Afghanistan prior to their withdrawal and were handed over by the Afghan Taliban to militant groups for use against Pakistan.
The US-made weapons allowed militants to target Pakistani forces from long distances, even at night. The seized arsenal included steel-core bullets capable of penetrating bulletproof jackets. In addition to firearms, security forces recovered high-quality explosives and wiring previously used by US and NATO forces.
The displayed arms include M4 and M16 rifles, along with other modern automatic weapons. Night-vision goggles and other advanced equipment were also recovered from the militants.
Security sources warn that these weapons have been actively used by militant groups against law enforcement agencies in Pakistan, and the total number of seized arms is believed to be significantly higher than those displayed.
