Arms possessed by security organs fully secure: MoI

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Interior Ministry says the weapons possessed by IEA security organs are completely secure and are being kept in safe depots.

A spokesman for the ministry issued the statement in response to Pakistani media reports about a botched attempt to smuggle “US-manufacture weapons from Afghanistan” to the neighbouring country.

On Monday, Pakistani customs officials claimed seizing “US-made weapons” at the Torkham crossing. The arms were reportedly recovered from a truck that entered Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Pakistani media, citing Torkham-based officials, reported the arms included US-made M4 assault rifles, handguns, night vision scopes and thousands of bullets.

In response to the report, Abdul Mateen Qane, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said: “These types of weapons may be smuggled to other countries after being purchased in the black market.”

Qane insisted the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) had nothing to do with the bid to smuggle weapons to the neighbouring country.

The arms possessed by the security organs of Afghanistan were completely protected in well-guarded depots, the MoI spokesman stressed.

IEA deemed it important to prevent the sale, purchase and smuggling of weapons and it had already tasked the security agencies to unmask and prosecute those involved in such activities, he added.

aw/mud