SRINAGAR: Apart from recovery of American-make weapons like M4 Carbines from separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, officials hint at the supply of weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan that have reached, Daily Excelsior reported.
The security grid indicate a flow of weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan, reaching militant groups in the region.
According to official data, there has been a noticeable increase in weapon recoveries, including AK-series firearms, since 2021.
Recent incidents include militants using American-made M4 carbine assault rifles during attacks in Badnoti near Machedi and other areas such as Doda, Poonch, and Rajouri.
These weapons are believed to have been abandoned by the US Army following its 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, now utilized by militants targeting civilians and security forces.
Last year, Central Intelligence Agencies received intelligence linking logistics, arms, and ammunition used in the Poonch attack, which resulted in the deaths of five RR jawans, to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Local police investigations also suggest that bullets used in the attack originated from Afghanistan, left behind by US forces.
In a significant seizure in December 2022, police in Jammu recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including seven AK-47 rifles, one US-made M4 rifle, three pistols, and grenades. This discovery coincided with an operation targeting four terrorists planning an attack on security forces.
Security agencies have long warned that weapons left behind by the US Army in Afghanistan could potentially find their way to Jammu and Kashmir via Pakistan, exacerbating regional security challenges.
Meanwhile, responding to a recent militant attack in Doda that claimed the lives of four Army soldiers, Director General of Police RR Swain vowed a robust response, stating in a televised interview, “Every single policeman of J&K Police will fight shoulder to shoulder and avenge; we will make sure the enemies pay a heavy price.”
