A spokesperson for the Indian army in Kashmir said most of the weapons turning up so far were recovered from militants from Pakistan-based groups Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)* or Lashkar-e-Taiba*, which fought alongside the Taliban** in Afghanistan and are now attempting to annex Kashmir for Pakistan.
The weapons include M4s, M16s and other US-manufactured guns and ammunition that are unusual to find in Kashmir.
Experts assume that the abandoned weapons could be a significant source of revenue for the Taliban and could pose a threat around the region. A Pentagon report found that more than $7.1 billion worth of US military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan, including more than 316,000 weapons worth nearly $512 million.
*banned terrorist organizations
**under UN sanctions for terrorism