Arms flow in

Networks of smugglers are carrying weapons and ammunition through the mountains in the north to sell to the armed opponents of the government.

Interviews conducted by Killid trace the smuggling from Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan to locations in Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor.

Networks of smugglers are carrying weapons and ammunition through the mountains in the north to sell to the armed opponents of the government.

Interviews conducted by Killid trace the smuggling from Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan to locations in Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor.

Mohammad Nayeem Ghoyoor, intelligence chief in the Ansar zone commandment, says the smugglers are taking advantage of both the porous borders and corrupt Afghan security forces. Military vehicles have been used to transport smuggled goods.

According to Ghoyoor, some 20 individuals involved in smuggling weapons in the western zone were arrested by the police. But not one detained so far has been a big smuggler.

Meanwhile, intelligence gathering has been strengthened in Farah, Badghis and Herat to seal smuggling routes. Smugglers make a killing selling arms and weapons on the thriving black market. A Turkish pistol sells for 30,000 Afs (434 USD) each; the Chinese TT pistol for between 15,000 and 20,000 Afs (217 to 289 USD; and, a Russian pistol for between 5,000 and 10,000 Afs (72 to 144 USD). There is also a big market for Kalashnikovs at 70,000 Afs (1,012 USD) each.

Abdul Rawoof Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Herat police says police reports show the Taleban smuggle weapons packages from Helmand to Kandahar and thereon to Farah and Heart. It goes from there to Faryab and Badghis. He says Herat police have recovered weapons and explosives from Kohsan district including Kalashinkovs, a rocket launcher and also a machinegun in Ghorian district, Herat province. The Taleban were planning to take the weapons to the northern provinces.

Thriving market

Farah police commander Touryalai Abdiani also cites intelligence reports to say Iran and Pakistan are supplying arms to the government’s opponents. Neither does he give further details. He identifies the districts of Khak e Saphid, Balabollok and Bakwah in Farah province as centres for the sale and purchase of smuggled weapons. According to him, arms and explosives enter the province from Helmand and Nimroz provinces.

However, local officials say the weapons are given to Taleban in the districts of Qades, Juwand and Balamarghab, Badghis province. Abdul Rawoof Taj, commander-in-chief of the province claims policemen have turned supporters of armed groups.”

Weapons were recovered during a joint search by police, customs and other officials. While Ghor officials say weapons are taken clandestinely from Helmand to Ghor, police chief Mohseni says the weapons from Iran are mainly bound for Ghor. The route taken is from Charsada district to Shahrak, and onwards to Helmand province via Pasaband district (Ghor). He says that smugglers depend on motorcycles during smuggling operations. The police are yet to invest a single person in Ghor on suspicion of smuggling, Mohseni adds.

Dr Mahdi Hadeed who is in-charge of security in the Herat provincial council says, “The weapons market in Afghanistan is booming for three decades. There are Soviet-era weapons. Not one big arms smuggler has ever been arrested.”

In his opinion, clandestine arms came over the border with Pakistan and Turkmenistan. Killid tried to speak with officials in the Iranian and Turkmenistan consulates in Heart but they were unwilling.

Mohammad Juma Adeel, commander-in-chief of 705 border, is responsible for anti-smuggling operations. Operations are underway for a year along the Iran border. Clandestine stocks of weapons have been detected and confiscated. In the pipeline are fixed and mobile patrols by border police to deter smugglers in the western zone.

Killid spoke to Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Taleban. He claims half their weapons come from raids on government security forces. He denies receiving weapons from “friendly” neighbouring countries.