Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, Mullah Mohammed Yaqoob, the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, has accused Pakistan of failing to stop terrorist attacks within its borders. He refuted claims that Afghanistan harbors terrorists, suggesting that Pakistan’s own security measures are inadequate.
During an interview with the BBC, the Defence Minister dismissed Pakistan’s allegations of Afghanistan supporting terrorists. He said that Pakistan’s internal security system has not been effective in controlling armed groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Mullah Mohammed Yaqoob said that if terrorists from the TTP and BLA are crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan to conduct attacks, it is a reflection of Pakistan’s security failures. He made clear that the issue lies with Pakistan, not Afghanistan.
In August, Pakistan requested that the United States buy back military equipment left in Afghanistan after the 2021 withdrawal, citing the risk that these weapons are being used by militants and posing a threat to regional security. The unrestricted availability of US weaponry is considered a direct threat to Pakistan’s stability.
This stockpile of US weapons, estimated by the Pentagon to be worth over USD 7 billion, includes armored vehicles, advanced firearms, biometric systems, and other sensitive equipment. Many of these arms are believed to have been captured by the Pakistani Taliban and are now utilized in attacks against the country’s military.