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Pakistan seizes large cache of US-made weapons at border with Afghanistan
Pakistan has continued to accuse Afghanistan of facilitating militants, a claim the Islamic Emirate has vehemently denied.
Pakistan’s custom authorities claim to have seized a large cache of US-made weapons and ammunition worth approximately Rs35 million ($125,000) at the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to Pakistani security sources the weapons seized included M4 rifles and magazines.
“The recent seizure of US-made weapons raises concerns about potential Taliban support for TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), either directly or indirectly, as a strategic move to pressure Pakistan or assert influence in the region,” the sources said.
Pakistan has continued to accuse Afghanistan of facilitating militants, a claim the Islamic Emirate has vehemently denied. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said it will not allow anyone to threaten another country’s security from within Afghanistan.
“The rising activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan risks destabilizing the entire region, potentially leading to increased violence, displacement, and economic hardship,” Arab News quoted one source as saying.
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the TTP and other militant groups, which have targeted security forces convoys and check posts, and carried out targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Arab News quoted another security source who warned: “Afghanistan’s situation has far-reaching implications for international security.
“The presence of terrorist groups and IAG’s (interim Afghan government) persistent denial of the reality could fuel global terrorism and threaten regional stability.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced on Tuesday the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from prison.
According to the ministry, Coyle’s mother had written to the leader of the Islamic Emirate demanding amnesty and the release of her son on the occasion of Eid. The Supreme Court considered time served sufficient and decided to release him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this action was carried out on the basis of humanitarianism and good faith, and it believes that such measures can strengthen trust between countries. The ministry also expressed hope that both countries, in the future, can find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Islamic Emirate also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in this matter.
Separately, for Coyle’s release, an American delegation, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met on Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
The meeting was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, Ambassador of the UAE in Kabul, and a member of the prisoner’s family.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi stated that the Islamic Emirate has not detained any citizen of any country to achieve political objectives; rather, detentions were the result of legal violations, and individuals were released after completing judicial procedures.
At the meeting, Khalilzad praised the action of the Islamic Emirate and emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on all issues between the two countries, expressing hope for further progress in the future.
Muttaqi also stressed that Kabul and the UAE should provide standard consular services to their citizens, and that the Afghan government is fully prepared in this regard.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for their constructive role in facilitating the release of the prisoner and referred to the UAE as a close friend of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Muttaqi had also praised the role of the State of Qatar in facilitating information exchange between the Islamic Emirate and the prisoner’s family.
Additionally, the UAE ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to play a role in humanitarian institutions and called such developments beneficial for everyone.
The United Kingdom has announced an additional £3 million (AFN 257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, aimed at supporting people affected by natural disasters and other shocks.
Richard Lindsay, in a post on X, said the funding will be used to provide essential nutrition supplies and related support to vulnerable populations.
The new allocation brings the UK’s total bilateral assistance to Afghanistan for the current financial year to £154 million (AFN 13.18 billion).
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