US M4 carbine assault rifles frequently used in recent terror attacks in J&K; experts call it ‘alarming’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir caught using US weapons M4 carbine assault riflesespecially during the recent attacks in Kathua. Experts told PTI that they find this trend “alarming” as the weapons left behind by the US military after its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 have apparently reached the extremists through Pakistani proxies.
The M4 carbine rifles, designed and developed in the 1980s, have been used extensively by NATO and reportedly by several militaries, including Pakistani special forces and the Sindh police special security unit. These rifles have been used in numerous conflicts around the world, including the Syrian Civil War, the Iraqi Civil War, the Yemeni Civil War, the Colombian conflict, the Kosovo War, and the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The increased maneuverability of the M4 carbine makes it a favorite choice among military troops.
According to experts, the widespread use of these assault rifles by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir is a result of the US military leaving behind arms and ammunition during its withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The use of steel bullets in these weapons, which are more lethal, is a cause of concern.
Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkarni, a defence expert who served in Jammu and Kashmir during his tenure in the Indian Army, believes that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is helping terrorists with advanced weapons like M4 carbine rifles to carry out their malicious intentions in the region.
The first instance of an M4 carbine rifle being recovered in Jammu and Kashmir was reported on November 7, 2017, when Talha Rasheed Masood, a nephew of Jaish-e-Muhammad leader Masood Azhar, was killed in a gunfight in Pulwama district. Since then, the weapon has been recovered multiple times, including during clashes with other top terrorists. Shesh Paul Vaid, former Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, noted that the frequent use of M4 carbines by terrorists in the region was not widespread during his tenure from December 2016 to September 2018.
In recent months, the M4 carbine has reportedly been used in all major attacks in the Jammu region, including the Kathua attack on July 8, the Reasi attack on June 9 and the Poonch terror attack last December. While acknowledging that advanced weapons like the M4 carbine increase the likelihood of casualties, Vaid expressed hope that the security forces will effectively deal with the challenge and adapt to situations where the enemy is equipped with such advanced weapons.