Islamabad, February 5: The culture of illegal arms in Pakistan is not a sudden phenomenon. It is the result of long-standing instability, decades of conflict, lax governance, and a deep-seated connection to weapons within society, according to a recent report.
The report, published by the Afghan Diaspora Network, features insights from Fatima Chaudhry, a lecturer at a private university in Punjab province. It highlights that the current system of illegal arms and trafficking in the country is shaped by a mix of geopolitics, criminal networks, and cultural traditions. The vulnerabilities of the state and societal beliefs reinforce each other, leading to a flourishing illegal trade in small arms and light weapons.
Over the past two decades, incidents of extremism, suicide attacks, and assaults on security forces have created a conducive environment for organized crime. With government resources tied up in counter-terrorism efforts, criminal markets have expanded. During this time, heroin trafficking and domestic drug issues have surged, with arms trafficking following the same routes and networks.
The report states that during Interpol’s ‘Operation Trigger Salvo-2’ in 2023, hundreds of weapons, their parts, and large quantities of ammunition were seized in Pakistan, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan. However, these seizures represent only a small fraction of the total arms present in the region.
The situation worsened after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Following the Taliban’s takeover, a significant amount of military equipment left behind by U.S. forces fell into their hands. The report claims that some of these weapons were smuggled into Pakistan, while others were sold through long-established tribal networks.
Although a license is required to possess firearms in Pakistan, the report indicates that millions of rounds of ammunition exist without registration. Illegal weapons are readily available in open markets, workshops, and online platforms.