SEIZURE OF US-MADE WEAPONS BY PAKISTAN AUTHORITIES AT TORKHAM BORDER

In a major crackdown at the Torkham border, Pakistan’s customs officials seized a substantial cache of US-made weapons, valued at Rs. 3.5 crore. The seized arms, which include M4 rifles, magazines, and cartridges, have raised concerns about the growing cross-border smuggling of sophisticated weaponry, largely originating from post-withdrawal Afghanistan. These developments signal a troubling escalation in the region’s arms trafficking, further complicated by militant groups gaining access to these high-grade weapons, thus posing serious threats to regional stability.

The presence of these weapons suggests increased arms smuggling across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Research indicates that since the pull out of America from Afghanistan, some weapons have found their way to neighboring areas and to hostile parties. This growing arms trade reflects Afghanistan’s deepening security crisis under the current Taliban regime based on their very poor governance capacity that has enhanced the operations of transnational arms and militant group, posing a threat to regional stability.

The problem is further worsened by the presence of TTP in Afghanistan. The fact that TTP has been able to acquire such high-grade weaponry means there is a free pass for their activities not only Pakistan but also the entire region. The continued rise of TTP activity in Afghanistan is considered by many analysts a major security threat to stability in South Asia, where there is still high competition between numerous militant groups.

The latest seizure has further fueled existing speculation whether the Afghan Taliban directly or indirectly supports TTP through supply of sophisticated weapons. Critics suggest that Afghan Taliban may be exploiting these conduits in order to increase pressure on Pakistan or, at least, to establish a strategic presence in the region. The potential for purposeful enabling – whether through omission or commission – increases security risks, which could pull Pakistan and Afghanistan into a far more acute and perhaps unstable situation.

Analysts have noted that the escalation in arms smuggle rate through Afghanistan is likely to result in a destabilization of the whole of South Asia and beyond. With terrorist groups all gaining ground within the Afghanistan territory, neighbours of the country stand a high risk of being spillover of violence, increased displacements and economic difficulties. In addition, the increasing security threat may draw attention from the rest of the world, which will have consequences for countries in the region or elsewhere.

Since IAG has remained inclined in downplaying the problem of arms proliferation, the threat of global terrorism is escalating. It has become necessary for the international actors to join hands in order to counter the challenge presented by proliferation of weapons and militancy. For regional stability and international security, it is high time for Afghan government as well as other international actors to address arms trafficking issue. If this is not done the embers of instability are likely to catch fire, intensifying the security dilemma in South Asia and beyond.