Khawaja Asif Alleges Baloch Rebels Use US Rifles, Night Vision Devices

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Baloch insurgent groups are in possession of advanced US-origin weapons, including rifles and night vision devices, intensifying allegations of external involvement in the long-running insurgency in Balochistan.

Speaking publicly, Asif said Pakistani security forces had recovered sophisticated military equipment during operations against Baloch rebel groups. He alleged that the weapons, which he described as modern and battlefield-grade, were originally supplied by the United States and later found their way into the hands of militants operating in the restive province.

The defence minister did not provide specific evidence or name the precise source through which the weapons allegedly reached the rebels. However, he suggested that arms left behind during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan may have contributed to the proliferation of advanced weaponry in the region, a concern Pakistan has raised repeatedly in international forums.

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Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has witnessed a decades-long insurgency driven by grievances over political marginalisation, control of natural resources, and alleged human rights abuses. The Pakistani state has accused separatist groups of targeting security forces and infrastructure projects, including those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Islamabad has frequently claimed that militant groups in Balochistan receive foreign backing, allegations that have been denied by Pakistan’s critics and rival states. The United States has not publicly responded to Asif’s latest remarks, and there has been no independent verification of the claims regarding US-supplied weapons.

The comments come amid heightened security concerns in Pakistan following a series of attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Analysts say such statements reflect Pakistan’s ongoing effort to frame internal security challenges within a broader regional and geopolitical context, even as the insurgency in Balochistan remains a complex mix of local, national, and international factors.

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