Bilawal Bhutto blamed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan for rising terrorism in Pakistan, citing leftover weapons falling into militant hands.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and former Foreign Minister, has stated that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has significantly contributed to the surge in terrorism in the region. During his ongoing visit to Washington, Bhutto Zardari expressed concerns over the leftover American weapons in Afghanistan, which he claims are now being used by terrorist groups against Pakistan.
According to The Economic Times (June 10), Bhutto Zardari indirectly held the United States and evolving regional dynamics responsible for Pakistan’s worsening internal security situation. He emphasized that the chaotic manner in which the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 created a vacuum that militant groups have exploited.
“We talk about terror, we talk about Afghanistan, we talk about other things. That’s what we’ve spent the last couple of decades of this relationship discussing about,” he said, underlining that these themes continue to dominate Pakistan’s engagement with the United States.
The Pakistani leader reiterated that the U.S. exit left behind advanced military equipment, now reportedly in the hands of extremist outfits. He expressed frustration that these weapons are being used against Pakistani security forces. “If you hear about the weapons, you’d be shocked,” he said, noting that some black-market arms recovered from terrorists in Pakistan trace back to stockpiles abandoned in Afghanistan.
Bhutto also called for greater regional and international cooperation in combating the evolving threat of terrorism, particularly in the post-Kabul context. “We need enhanced collective efforts to deal with the remnants of terrorism that continue to destabilize the region,” he added.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban regime in Kabul of selling U.S.-origin weapons to militant groups operating across the border. While the Taliban have rejected these claims, the issue has remained a persistent source of tension between the two neighbors. Despite this, recent months have seen some thaw in diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul.
Bhutto’s remarks underscore Pakistan’s deepening security concerns and its call for greater accountability over the unintended consequences of the Afghanistan withdrawal. As regional actors seek to recalibrate their strategies, the international community faces renewed pressure to engage constructively with South Asia’s counterterrorism efforts.
