US weapons used in Jafar Express attack revealed

Shiite News: An investigation by the American newspaper Washington Post has found that the terrorists who attacked the Jafar Express train in Balochistan last month used weapons left behind after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

According to The Washington Post, an M4A1 carbine rifle made by American manufacturer Colt was found at the site of the attack.

The rifle’s serial number indicates that it was part of billions of dollars worth of weapons sent to US forces in Afghanistan, who left most of their equipment behind when they withdrew in 2021.

The Washington Post wrote that many of the weapons ended up across the border in Pakistan, in arms markets and in the hands of insurgents, illustrating how the dire consequences of America’s failed war are still being felt years after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

According to the report, Pakistan is trying to control terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militants are armed with American weapons and equipment.

The Washington Post reported, citing arms dealers and government officials, that the original purpose of the American rifles, machine guns and night-vision goggles was to help stabilize Afghanistan.

According to the report, they are now being used by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups to carry out attacks.

Ahmed Hussain, a 35-year-old Special Forces constable who was seriously injured in a nighttime attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last year, told The Washington Post that they (the terrorists) have the most advanced American-made weapons.

He added that they could see us, but we could not see them. The Washington Post further wrote that in May 2024, Pakistani authorities granted access to documents, under which dozens of American weapons were recovered from the possession of captured or killed terrorists.

After months of inquiries, the US military and the Pentagon confirmed to The Post that 63 of the weapons shown to journalists were provided by the US government to the Afghan National Forces, most of which were M16 rifles as well as modern M4 carbines. Pakistani officials also showed PVS-14 night vision devices, which are widely used by the US military, but The Washington Post could not independently verify that they were owned by the former US government.

The Washington Post wrote that after the Jafar Express attack, Pakistani authorities provided the serial numbers of three American rifles allegedly used by the attackers.

The newspaper, citing records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, added that at least two came from American stocks and were provided to Afghan forces.

The Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement in January that the presence of advanced American weapons in Afghanistan was a security concern for Pakistan.

The Washington Post added that US President Donald Trump has threatened to permanently halt aid to Afghanistan if the Taliban do not return the military equipment.

Donald Trump said during the first cabinet meeting in February that we left billions of dollars worth of equipment, all the latest stuff, I think we should get the equipment back.

According to the Washington Post, his comments have revived hopes in Islamabad that the US will move more decisively in response to its military equipment, but most believe it is already too late to stop the flow of illegal weapons.

It should be noted that on March 11, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists ambushed the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express carrying 440 passengers and took people hostage, resulting in a two-day operation by security forces.

The Pakistan Army’s Public Relations Department said on March 12 that the Jaffar Express clearance operation had been completed, adding that all 33 terrorists were killed at the scene of the attack.