FOLLOWING the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, it was widely perceived that the United States and its Western allies had completely disengaged from the Taliban-led government in Kabul.
This perception was reinforced when Washington froze approximately $9.5 billion of Afghan Central Bank assets on August 18, 2021, explicitly to prevent these funds from falling into Taliban hands. However, despite public posturing, the United States did not entirely sever its ties with Afghan Taliban Regime. Washington maintained covert and indirect engagement with the Taliban regime. Through United Nations humanitarian agencies, international NGOs, IGOs and multinational corporations, US facilitated the economic survival of both the Afghan population and the Taliban government. Simultaneously, Taliban officials and US representatives continued to hold meetings covertly. The US State Department later characterized post-2021 relations with Afghanistan as a policy of “pragmatic engagement.” Thus, contrary to popular belief, diplomatic and operational linkages between the Taliban and the United States persisted after the military withdrawal.
A distinctive feature of US diplomacy in post-withdrawal Afghanistan has been its multi-layered engagement strategy. In addition to dealing with the Taliban government, Washington has cultivated contacts with political, religious and social groups across Afghan society, thereby maintaining considerable goodwill within Afghan civil circles. Financial and humanitarian assistance continues to flow to Afghanistan through UN agencies and NGOs, while close liaison with the Taliban remains essential for the implementation of various clauses of the US-Taliban Agreement, which appears to serve the interests of both sides. One of the most critical clauses of this agreement required the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil would not be used against any other country. While the Taliban claim to be implementing this commitment in letter and spirit, Pakistan remains a glaring exception. Afghan territory continues to be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, primarily by Fitna Al Khawarij (TTP) and allied militant groups. Despite overwhelming evidence, US has never seriously questioned the Taliban regarding their continued patronage and facilitation of Fitna Al Khawarij, the principal terrorist organization responsible for the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan.
A major factor contributing to this resurgence is the large cache of US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan during the hurried American withdrawal. These abandoned assets included modern and sophisticated weapon systems, surveillance equipment, night-vision devices and aircraft. Although the US military claimed that most aircraft were demilitarized and rendered inoperable prior to withdrawal, it has become an open secret that Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists now have access to a significant portion of this equipment.
According to the US Department of Defense, military equipment worth approximately $7 billion was left behind in Afghanistan at the time of the withdrawal. Reports, including those by Voice of America, indicate that Taliban fighters gained access to over $7.12 billion worth of US military hardware following the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in August 2021. While the Pentagon attempted to downplay these claims, it acknowledged that the equipment had been provided to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Pakistani military and law enforcement officials, however, have repeatedly confirmed that Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists are actively using American-made weapons in attacks against Pakistan. Pakistani security agencies have recovered such weapons from arrested terrorists as well as from militants killed during counterterrorism operations. These recovered arms include highly advanced systems such as: (a) Thermal-vision–equipped rifles and helmets, (b) Laser sights and suppressed rifles, (c) M24 sniper rifles and M4 carbines fitted with Trijicon ACOG scopes, (d) DShKM heavy machine guns, (e) 107mm Type-85 single-tube rocket launchers and (f) M16A4 rifles equipped with thermal scopes.
Pakistani security and political officials have officially acknowledged the use of these sophisticated US made weapons by Fitna Al Khawarij against Pakistani security forces. The availability of such modern equipment has dramatically enhanced the lethality, accuracy and operational effectiveness of terrorist attacks. According to Pakistani security officials, the use of US-made night-vision devices enables terrorists to detect, track and engage security personnel at extended ranges, resulting in higher casualties and increased operational challenges.
There remains considerable controversy regarding the exact scale and fate of US weapons left behind in Afghanistan. Pentagon reports submitted to Congress later acknowledged significant discrepancies. President Trump upon is take over demanded return of these weapons from Afghan Taliban regime. Afghan Taliban officials, for their part, admitted to seizing substantial quantities of US weapons during their takeover in August 2021, including: a) 300,000 light weapons, b) 26,000 heavy weapons and c) 61,000 military vehicles. Given the Taliban’s complete control over these stockpiles, it is widely believed that a portion of the weapons was subsequently transferred to Fitna Al Khawarij, despite official denials. In 2025, the Taliban government itself reported that nearly half of these weapons had fallen into the hands of terrorist organizations like FAK (TTP). Other reports suggest that many of these weapons were sold in local Afghan markets.
Undeniably, the proliferation of abandoned US military equipment has significantly intensified terrorism in Pakistan, resulting in substantial casualties among both security forces and civilians. It is, therefore, imperative that the United States reassess its covert engagement with the Taliban regime and exert meaningful pressure on Kabul to recover, secure and return the weapons left behind during the 2021 withdrawal. Failure to do so will continue to undermine regional security and fuel cross-border terrorism, with grave consequences for Pakistan and the wider region.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
