Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the PPP chairman, during his visit to Washington, has reignited discussions about Afghanistan and terrorism, placing indirect blame on the United States and the regional landscape for Pakistan’s internal security problems. He stated that Pakistan’s challenges stem from the manner of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, specifically the military equipment left behind, which, according to him, has fallen into the hands of terrorist organizations.
Zardari stated that these issues continue to dominate Pakistan’s discussions with the US. He urged greater regional and international cooperation to counter terrorism, yet did not acknowledge any previous role Pakistan might have played in supporting extremist elements.
He noted that terrorist groups operating within Pakistan possess weapons obtained from the black market that are more sophisticated than the equipment used by Pakistani law enforcement. While the Islamic Emirate has not yet responded, it has previously cautioned Islamabad against making accusations that could damage relations.
Political analyst Mohammad Zalmai Afghan Yar has criticized Pakistan’s approach, raising questions about Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate with Afghanistan. The recent exchange occurs amid improved diplomatic ties between Kabul and Islamabad, with both countries upgrading their envoys to full ambassadors.