The rifle recovered from the terrorist killed in Kupwara in J&K could mean a new threat is lurking. that's why

A Steyr AUG rifle recovered from two terrorists killed in Kupwara on Thursday has been used by armies across the globe, putting the security network on high alert with officials fearing threats from the North-West Frontier Province and Afghan weapons and fighters have now arrived in Jammu and Kashmir.

The unusual resurgence in Kashmir has also fueled speculation about the discovery of more such weapons.

News18 had earlier reported that senior security network officials have warned Pakistan to use Taliban militants as well as weapons and war equipment left behind by US-led forces in Afghanistan to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir.

That warning appears to be becoming a bygone reality, according to Border Security Force data. Data shows that since 2021, in addition to the increase in the recovery of improvised explosive devices, the recovery of weapons and AK series weapons has increased compared with the same period last year.

The recent discovery of a US-made M4 carbine assault rifle in Kathua confirms the suspicions of Indian agencies that weapons left behind by the US Army after its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have finally reached Kashmir.

News18 reported this week that the CIA also received clues last year that the logistics, weapons and ammunition used in the Poonch attack that killed five RR soldiers came from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The local police investigation into the Ponchi attack also suspected that the bullets used in the attack came from Afghanistan and were left behind after the US military withdrew.

The Afghan government had more than $7.1 billion worth of U.S.-funded military equipment when it fell into the hands of the Taliban in August 2021, according to a Department of Defense report released last August. It said it also included more than 316,000 weapons worth nearly $512 million, plus ammunition and other accessories.

“At least 78 aircraft worth $923.3 million, 9,524 air-to-ground munitions worth $6.54 million, more than 40,000 vehicles, more than 300,000 weapons, and nearly all night vision, surveillance, communications and biometric equipment, [Afghan defense forces] A report released in February 2023 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) cited data from the Department of Defense.

Lt. Col. Amron Mousavi, an Indian Army spokesman in Srinagar, earlier told NBC News that militants from both groups were sent to Afghanistan to fight against the U.S. before it withdraws troops from the war-torn country. Fight alongside or train the Taliban. “It's safe to assume that they were able to obtain the weapons that were left behind,” he added.

Ajai Sahni, a writer on counterterrorism and executive director of the Institute of Conflict Management think tank in New Delhi, said the Tehreek-e-Insaf and Lashkar-e-Taiba may buy U.S. weapons from the Afghan Taliban. “The United Nations says both groups are in Afghanistan.” Buy weapons”. “Smugglers through al-Qaeda or Pakistan,” NBC News reported.

While data compiled by the J&K police showed significant progress in controlling terror activities and neutralizing terrorists, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently said in Parliament: “Jammu has put in place a strong security and intelligence network to thwart any terror attack. and Kashmir. Further measures taken by the government to prevent terror incidents and protect civilian lives in the valley include collective security in the form of fixed guards, round-the-clock inspection of strategic points, night patrols and area control, identification of vulnerable points and Security arrangements will be made through appropriate deployment of police, army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and intensified cordon and search operations.