- American weapons were found from the terrorists involved in the PAF base attack.
- A State Department spokesperson expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
- Called upon Pakistan to maintain its obligations towards refugees and asylum seekers.
Washington: Amid evidence pointing to the use of US-made weapons by terrorists in Pakistan, the State Department on Tuesday said “no equipment” was left behind by US forces during the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
“We are aware of the reports of multiple attacks on Pakistani security forces and facilities in early November and we offer our condolences to the families of the victims, but I want to be very clear about this: no equipment was left behind by US forces. During the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a news briefing.
Although the spokesperson acknowledged that large-scale military grant aid to Pakistan is “suspended”, Washington has committed “to support law enforcement, rule of law, counter-narcotics efforts and other areas in the security sector” for more than 40 years. Has partnered with Islamabad since time immemorial. We will continue to attach importance to our bilateral relations.”
The response came in response to a question during the briefing regarding the recovery of US-made weapons recovered from the terrorists who attacked the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Mianwali Training Air Base.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said that last week, Pakistani security forces had killed nine terrorists in an evacuation operation in a quick response of troops after a failed terrorist attack on an air force base.
However, sources said on Monday geo news That the terrorists who attacked PAF had used American-made weapons.
The weapons recovered from the terrorists included RPG-7, AK-74, M-4 and M-16/A4, the officials said, speaking to the TV channel on condition of anonymity.
Islamabad has consistently pointed to the use of US-made weapons by terrorists involved in attacks in the country.
In September this year, the Foreign Office had expressed concern over “advanced weapons” being used by terrorists in Afghanistan to attack Pakistan and its security agencies.
“These modern weapons have fallen into the hands of terrorists in Afghanistan who are using them [weapons] To attack Pakistan and its security agencies,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly briefing.
He said the situation needed international attention and called on all stakeholders to take up their responsibilities in this regard.
US urges Pakistan to ‘uphold’ rights of Afghan refugees
On a question about Afghan refugees and deportation of Afghan nationals included in the US embassy list, Patel urged all states, including Pakistan, to “uphold their respective obligations in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers and prevent non-refoulement.” Respect the principle.” ,
“We strongly encourage Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, to allow entry of Afghans seeking international protection and to coordinate with appropriate international humanitarian organizations,” Patel said.
The statement comes as the Pakistani government has ordered officials against arresting Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States, thereby protecting them from deportation as it begins a crackdown on undocumented immigrants living in Pakistan. Is.
Border officials have said more than 180,000 people have returned to Afghanistan after Islamabad ordered 1.7 million Afghans living illegally in Pakistan to leave or face deportation.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has earlier warned that Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada after fleeing the Taliban government are at risk of deportation after their Pakistan visas expire.
Two years after the Taliban takeover, many Western countries are still in the process of resettling Afghan refugees, leaving many families waiting for months in Pakistan.
