ISLAMABAD: A top US official said on Wednesday no military equipment had been left behind by American forces in Afghanistan, in response to a question about reports that $7 billion worth of weapons reportedly were abandoned in the war-torn country when US forces withdrew in August 2011.
The comments by John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication, came days after Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said US military equipment left behind during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan was now “emerging as a new challenge” for Islamabad as it had enhanced the fighting capabilities of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP, which has been fighting the Pakistani state since 2007, has intensified attacks on security forces since late last year and are a separate but allied group of the Afghan Taliban.
The remarks also came on the same day four Pakistani soldiers were killed during an attack on two military check posts by a “large group of terrorists” that the army said was equipped with “latest weapons.”
“There was no equipment left behind by American forces,” Kirby said in response to a question at a press briefing.
“The equipment that people are saying the Americans left behind, that was equipment that was transferred well in advance of our departure to the Afghan National Security Forces. … because that was part of the mission that our troops were involved in Afghanistan to do in the first place, which was to train up and to support Afghan national security forces as they took charge of security in their country.”
Kirby said as the Taliban advanced on Kabul and other places throughout the country after the US withdrawal, the Afghan National Security Forces, and not the US, abandoned that equipment.
Speaking to foreign media journalists at his office on Monday in Islamabad, Kakar did not provide evidence to support his allegation that the TTP were using American weapons but called for a “coordinated approach” to tackle the challenge of the leftover equipment.
“We are not accusing the US of anything that we would need to share evidence (for),” Kakar said when asked if Pakistan had presented evidence to Washington that its military equipment was now being used against Pakistan.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago was widely viewed as “chaotic,” with Afghan security forces, built and trained at a two-decade cost of $83 billion, collapsing quickly and completely after, and the Afghan Taliban capturing an array of modern military equipment.
US denies leaving military equipment in Afghanistan amid fears weapons with Pakistani Taliban
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US denies leaving military equipment in Afghanistan amid fears weapons with Pakistani Taliban
- Pakistani PM has said US military equipment left in Afghanistan had enhanced the fighting capabilities of TTP
- Four soldiers killed in northern Pakistan on Wednesday by militants the army said carried “latest weapons”
Pakistan’s deputy PM to raise security concerns during daylong visit to Afghanistan on Saturday
- Ishaq Dar’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan has blamed Afghan officials for ‘facilitating’ cross-border militancy
- The two countries have tried to resume diplomatic engagements in recent days, with high-level official exchanges
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit Kabul on Saturday for high-level talks, with security issues topping the agenda amid ongoing tensions between the two neighbors.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan, which Islamabad attributes to armed groups operating from Afghan territory.
Pakistan has frequently accused the Taliban-led government in Kabul of providing safe havens to these militants and “facilitating” cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan denies.
“At the invitation of interim Afghan Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will lead a high-level delegation to Kabul tomorrow,” the foreign office announced in a statement.
“The talks will cover entire gamut of Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties,” it added.
The foreign office said Dar will meet Afghan Acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and hold delegation-level talks with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized the importance of the visit.
“The key concern remains centered on security,” he said during his weekly media briefing. “The question of sanctuaries and terrorism has been raised multiple times [with Afghanistan], and we will keep raising it.”
“We want to find an amicable solution to this challenge,” he added.
Since late 2023, Pakistan has initiated the deportation of undocumented immigrants, predominantly Afghan nationals, citing security concerns. The move has strained relations further, with Afghan authorities raising concerns over the expulsions.
Despite these tensions, both countries have resumed diplomatic efforts to improve ties. A Pakistani delegation recently visited Kabul for a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting, while an Afghan delegation traveled to Islamabad to discuss trade and connectivity initiatives.
Dar’s visit is seen as a continuation of these efforts, aiming to address mutual concerns and explore avenues for cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Pakistan PM launches tax authority’s performance system amid IMF reform push
- The international lender wants digitization of FBR along with tax base expansion in Pakistan
- The PM was briefed about FBR’s data-driven decision-making to ensure greater efficiency
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday launched a performance management system for Pakistan’s tax authority, urging officials to enhance efficiency and boost revenue collection to help reduce the country’s reliance on external debt, state media reported.
The move is part of broader reforms tied to Pakistan’s $7 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which include overhauling the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) through greater digitization, institutional accountability and tax base expansion.
The FBR, long criticized for inefficiency and underperformance, plays a central role in Pakistan’s fiscal framework and is under pressure to deliver sustained growth in tax revenues.
“If we want to move away from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we must work hard to increase our revenues,” Sharif said at the launch event, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
He also described it as a long journey, adding more work was required to plug the loopholes in the system.
The newly launched performance system introduces evaluations of FBR officers based on defined metrics. Sharif said similar models would be introduced across other state institutions to promote a culture of accountability.
During the visit, officials also briefed the prime minister on separate reforms underway at the FBR, including the development of a data-driven decision-making framework. That system will pull information from entities like the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) and banking institutions to track payments and asset acquisitions, as part of efforts to align the tax regime with international standards.
Authorities said over 35 additional companies had been added to the tax net as part of ongoing digitization efforts. Tax return forms have also been simplified, and preparations are underway for the nationwide rollout of a digital invoicing system.
Sharif acknowledged a 27 percent growth in FBR revenue over the past year but said more progress was needed to steer Pakistan out of its debt crisis and ensure fiscal stability.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in the region, limiting the government’s ability to fund public services and increasing dependence on borrowing.
Strengthening the FBR is seen as critical to reducing the budget deficit and restoring investor confidence.
The prime minister also visited FBR’s newly established delivery unit, praising the officers as a “national asset” and expressing hope that the ongoing reforms would lead to a more transparent and effective tax administration.
Pakistani forces kill four militants in Swat operation — military
- ISPR says weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site where the militants were killed
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praises the operation, calls it reflective of military’s professionalism
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed four militants in an intelligence-based operation in the country’s northwestern Swat district on Friday, informed the military, as Islamabad intensifies its crackdown on insurgents staging violent attacks on civilians and uniformed personnel.
Pakistan refers to fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of various armed groups, as khawarij, a term rooted in Islamic history that is used for an extremist sect that rebelled against authority and declared other Muslims to be apostates.
“On 18 April 2025, Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies conducted a joint intelligence based operation in Swat District on reported presence of Khawarij,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khawarij location, resultantly four khawarij were sent to hell,” it added.
The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site and described the slain militants as being involved in a number of militant activities in the area.
It added a “sanitization operation” was underway to clear the area of any remaining fighters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the operation, calling the forces’ efforts reflective of their professionalism and vowing to continue the fight against militancy.
“We will continue this war until terrorism is completely eradicated from the country,” Sharif said in a statement released by his office, adding that the entire nation stood firmly behind the armed forces.
Swat, once a Taliban stronghold, has witnessed a renewed presence of militants in some of its areas.
The TTP, which is separate from the Afghan Taliban but shares ideological roots, has stepped up attacks since the collapse of a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistani government in late 2022.
Minister says Pakistani journalists who visited Israel may face travel ban, lose citizenship
- Talal Chaudhry says government trying to determine how the journalists managed to travel to Israel
- Pakistan does not recognize Israel and its passport is valid for all countries except for the Jewish state
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said this week the government could impose travel restrictions and review the citizenship of Pakistani journalists who reportedly visited Israel in March amid the ongoing devastation and killings of Palestinian women and children in Gaza.
Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently advocated for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. The Pakistani passport explicitly states it is valid for all countries except Israel.
Last month, Israel Hayom, a Hebrew-language newspaper, reported that a 10-member Pakistani delegation comprising journalists, intellectuals and influencers visited Israel for a week. Subsequently, The Jerusalem Post noted that the delegation traveled to Israel to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.
“Our [Pakistani] passport, which is issued by the Ministry of Interior, does not allow travel to Israel,” Chaudhry said in an interview with Independent Urdu. “They certainly could not have gone there on this passport.”
The minister emphasized the government would determine how these journalists managed to travel to Israel.
“If our document has been misused, or if they misused it up to a certain point and then proceeded without any documents, then there are several criminal proceedings, including a potential travel ban, that could be initiated against such individuals,” he continued. “Even their citizenship could come into question.”
Chaudhry added the foreign and interior ministries were in contact regarding this matter.
The Pakistani foreign office said last month the country’s passport explicitly states it is “not valid for travel to Israel.”
“Therefore, no such visit is possible under existing regulations,” it maintained in a statement responding to media queries.
This is not the first time such an incident has been reported in the media. In 2022, a delegation of Pakistani journalists visited Israel under the banner of the Sharaka organization, which says it aims to promote dialogue and coexistence in the Middle East.
The visit led to significant controversy in Pakistan, with one of the journalists being dismissed from his position at the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) following the trip.
Pakistan says 907,391 Afghans deported as Kabul seeks ‘dignified repatriation’
- Move is part of larger repatriation drive against illegal foreigners that began in November 2023 following a rise in militant attacks
- Afghanistan proposes high-level committee of officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and international bodies to coordinate refugee issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s State Minister for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, said on Friday 907,391 Afghans had been deported since the government launched an expulsion drive against illegal foreigners in 2023, as Kabul called for the “dignified repatriation” of its citizens.
Islamabad launched the deportation campaign in November 2023, asking all foreigners without legal documentation to leave the country. Earlier this year, it launched the second phase of deportations, setting a deadline of Mar. 31 for people with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) — which since 2017 have granted temporary legal status to Afghans — to leave the country or face being deported.
According to UN data, Pakistan has hosted more than 2.8 million Afghan nationals who crossed the border in a desperate attempt to escape decades of war and instability in their home country. Around 1.3 million are formally registered as refugees and hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which grant them legal protection. Another 800,000 Afghans possess ACCs, a separate identity document issued by the Pakistani government that recognizes them as Afghan nationals without conferring refugee status.
“Pakistan has sent back 907,351 people in a dignified manner to Afghanistan as of today, this includes both the first and second phases,” Chaudhry told reporters in Islamabad.
“In the second phase, as of today, 84,871 people have been sent back, of which only 25,320 were ACC holders, and the rest were all illegal, who did not have registration of any kind.”
He said those awaiting deportation were being accommodated with Hajj pilgrims at the Hajj Complex in Islamabad and were being treated “fairly.”
Separately, an Afghan delegation led by Industry and Commerce Minister AlHajj Nooruddin Azizi and comprising Deputy Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Sheikh Kaleemur Rahman Fani met Chaudhry to discuss the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
“In addition to remarks on trade and transit, H.E. Nooruddin Azizi emphasized that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seeks a dignified process for the repatriation of Afghan refugees,” the Afghan Embassy in Pakistan said on X.
The Afghan refugees minister proposed the formation of a high-level committee comprising officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and relevant international organizations to address “refugee-related issues in a coordinated manner.”
The Afghan embassy quoted Chaudhry as saying Afghan refugees were “still considered guests in Pakistan” and efforts were underway to repatriate them in a “respectful” manner.
“The meeting concluded with an emphasis on conducting in-depth discussions on refugee matters during upcoming high-level engagements between the two countries,” it added.
Afghanistan has called for the peaceful and coordinated repatriation of its citizens amid reports of arrests and harassment during Pakistan’s mass expulsion drive. Islamabad denies the accusations and has urged Kabul to facilitate the reintegration of its citizens.
Pakistan’s deportation policy in 2023 followed a rise in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Islamabad has in the past blamed militant attacks and other crimes on Afghan citizens, who form the largest portion of migrants in the country.
The government says militants, especially from the Pakistani Taliban also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are using safe havens in Afghanistan and links with Afghans residing in Pakistan to launch cross-border attacks. The ruling administration in Kabul has rejected the accusations.
