Pakistani Officials report seizure of US weapons at Torkham border

Pakistani customs officials have reported the seizure of a cache of U.S.-origin weapons left behind in Afghanistan at the Torkham border.

On Tuesday, October 15, Pakistani media outlet News International reported that Muhammad Umar Jan, head of Torkham Customs, revealed in a press conference that officials intercepted a coal truck from Afghanistan after receiving credible intelligence.

According to officials, the vehicle was carrying 15 M4 rifles, 170 magazines, and over 5,100 rounds of ammunition. The estimated value of these weapons is 35 million Pakistani rupees, equivalent to more than $126,000.

Pakistani customs authorities have also released images of the seized weapons. The discovery adds to growing concerns about cross-border arms trafficking.

MediaLine further reported that Pakistani officials suspect these weapons were meant to be delivered to groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Authorities have detained the driver and an accomplice, and they have been moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

A Pakistani customs official told MediaLine that the seized arsenal included assault rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and other modern weaponry.

This significant weapons seizure occurred just one day before Islamabad’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference.

It was described as a major anti-terrorism operation. Past incidents have also involved the capture of U.S. weapons from Pakistani Taliban militants, raising concerns about the use of leftover American arms from Afghanistan in attacks on Pakistan.

It is worth mentioning that a year after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that NATO member countries had handed over $7.2 billion worth of weapons and military equipment to Afghanistan’s security institutions during their mission.

The cross-border smuggling of U.S.-made weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan continues to be a significant concern for Pakistani authorities. Despite Taliban assurances of no threats to neighboring countries, such incidents highlight the security risks posed by the leftover military equipment in the region, with militant groups exploiting these resources for violent activities.

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