ISLAMABAD, August 9, 2026: Pakistan has rejected allegations by the Afghan Taliban that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan, describing the claim as baseless, contrary to established facts and an attempt to divert international attention from terrorist groups operating on Afghan soil.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said Afghanistan already possesses large quantities of modern weapons and military equipment left behind following the withdrawal of United States and allied forces in 2021.
The ministry said the military equipment remaining in Afghanistan had been valued at approximately $7.2 billion, while large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons accumulated during decades of conflict were also present in the country.
US assessments have previously placed the value of military equipment left in Afghanistan after the collapse of the former Afghan government at more than $7 billion. The equipment included aircraft, vehicles, weapons, ammunition, communications systems and night-vision devices originally supplied to Afghan security forces.
Pakistan Says Claim Diverts Attention From Terrorism
The information ministry said attempts to attribute weapons found in Afghanistan to Pakistan appeared designed to shift attention away from what it described as the more serious issue of terrorist organizations maintaining a presence and operational freedom on Afghan territory.
According to the statement, militant groups continue to receive shelter and facilitation in Afghanistan and use Afghan soil to plan, support and carry out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the authorities in Kabul of failing to take credible action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militant organizations allegedly operating from Afghanistan.
A recent official statement by President Asif Ali Zardari, citing a United Nations monitoring report, said several terrorist groups, including the TTP, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State Khorasan, remained present in Afghanistan, with some continuing to plan external attacks.
Kabul Urged to Act Against Militant Sanctuaries
The ministry urged the Afghan Taliban to move beyond what it called unfounded accusations and take effective action against terrorist sanctuaries operating within Afghanistan.
It said Afghan authorities must fulfil their international commitments and ensure that their territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.
“The Afghan Taliban should act against the safe havens of terrorists present on their soil instead of levelling baseless allegations,” the ministry said in its statement.
Islamabad maintains that militants based in Afghanistan have been involved in planning and facilitating attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Pakistan Customs has also intercepted arms and ammunition moving across the Afghan border. In January 2026, authorities at Torkham said they seized more than 21,000 rounds of ammunition concealed in a vehicle entering Pakistan.
Weapons Left After US Withdrawal Remain a Security Concern
The weapons inherited by the Taliban after the 2021 collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government have remained a source of concern for Pakistan and other countries in the region.
A US government assessment said more than 300,000 weapons, thousands of military vehicles and large quantities of communications, surveillance and night-vision equipment remained in Afghanistan after the withdrawal.
Some US-supplied weapons have subsequently been recovered from militant groups during security operations in Pakistan, according to official accounts and international reporting.
The Pakistani ministry said the existence of these modern weapons, combined with older Soviet-era arms accumulated during decades of war, provided a clearer explanation for the widespread availability of weapons in Afghanistan.
It added that blaming Pakistan would not resolve the central security concern: the continued presence of militant groups capable of launching cross-border attacks.
Pakistan Reiterates Demand for Verifiable Action
The latest exchange comes amid strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border terrorism, border security and the Afghan Taliban’s handling of the TTP.
Pakistan has repeatedly said it seeks peaceful and cooperative relations with Afghanistan but will not accept the use of Afghan territory for attacks against its citizens and security forces.
The information ministry called on Kabul to take “effective and verifiable” action against militant groups and honour its commitment that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan or any other state.
The statement stressed that regional stability depended on confronting terrorism directly rather than shifting responsibility through allegations unsupported by evidence.
Also Read: Ishaq Dar Says Makkah Defence Accord Is Defensive, Open to Regional Partners
Today's E-Paper