In a recent visit to Washington, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has drawn renewed attention to the issues of Afghanistan and terrorism, implicitly blaming the United States and regional factors for Pakistan’s internal security problems. Zardari asserted that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent abandonment of military equipment have contributed to Pakistan’s security woes, alleging that the abandoned weapons have ended up in the possession of terrorist groups.
He emphasized that these issues are a primary focus in Pakistan’s ongoing discussions with the United States, advocating for greater international and regional cooperation to combat terrorism. However, he did not mention any past involvement of Pakistan in supporting extremist elements within its region.
Zardari also pointed out that some terrorist groups operating inside Pakistan possess weapons that are more advanced than those available to the country’s police forces, claiming these weapons originated from the black market and were left behind in Afghanistan. Although the Islamic Emirate has not yet responded, it has previously cautioned Islamabad against making inflammatory accusations that could destabilize ties.
Political analyst Mohammad Zalmai Afghan Yar criticized Pakistan’s stance, pointing out the need for cooperation and constructive dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The exchange of views comes at a time when Kabul and Islamabad have recently upgraded their diplomatic ties, elevating their envoys to full ambassadors.