The withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 has led to significant security challenges, primarily due to the abandonment of military equipment valued at around $7 billion. This equipment includes advanced weaponry, vehicles, aircraft, and surveillance tools. The shift in power dynamics in South Asia has benefited militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), thereby enhancing their operations.

U.S. Defense Department officials stated that the equipment was disabled before the withdrawal; however, regional security forces and intelligence agencies dispute these claims. As a result, these weapons have had a considerable impact on Pakistan, where insurgents have engaged in a revitalized insurgency, leading to unprecedented levels of violence throughout the country.

Security conditions in Pakistan are expected to remain volatile in 2025, as the TTP is intensifying its assaults on military forces, coupled with strikes against civilian targets. Security data indicates that the number of fatalities related to violence in 2024 surpassed 2,500 individuals, and it is anticipated that this year’s end count will follow a similar trend. One reason for the rise in militant attacks in Pakistan is that U.S. military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan has become available to insurgents. Pakistan’s military leadership has publicly stated that M4 rifles, night-vision goggles, and other advanced equipment have significantly enhanced the capabilities of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operations, resulting in more deadly and better-organized attacks. Female intelligence officers working for Pakistan have........

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