The Indian media outlet India Today has reported that the remaining US M4 rifles in Afghanistan have fallen into the hands of militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

The newspaper quoted sources as saying that Pakistan's intelligence agency (ISI) has been supplying the weapons to militants entering India from the border.

The discovery of M4 weapons from three militants in clashes in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir, has sparked a wave of concern among security forces, India Today reported on Tuesday, November 12. "Almost all the terrorists who cross the border carry AK-47 and M4 rifles," sources told the outlet.

Indian security forces are now investigating how US weapons left in Afghanistan ended up in the hands of militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

Experts also told India Today that the continued use of the assault rifle by militants in Jammu and Kashmir is a serious concern and may be a result of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021.

The Indian media outlet stressed in the report that these weapons are capable of penetrating bulletproof vehicles and damaging solid infrastructure.

So far, Pakistan has not commented on the allegations.

Earlier, Pakistani officials had expressed concern about the threat of US equipment remaining in Afghanistan to the countries of the region.

According to a Pentagon report, the US Department of Defence provided $18.6 billion worth of military equipment to the Afghan National Army and Security Forces between 2005 and August 2021. The US Department of Defence has announced the value of the remaining US equipment in Afghanistan at $7.12 billion.