SMUGGLING of goods from Afghanistan is not only hurting Pakistan’s economy but also poses a serious threat to its security. The Customs Department seized a huge cache of arms smuggled from Afghanistan at Torkham border the other day. The recovery included over two hundred sophisticated guns of different specifications and magazines.
The Customs Department deserves appreciation for timely seizing the arms otherwise it could have been used for some terrorist activities in Pakistan. Apart from these arms, Pakistan is also being used as a successful route by narcotics smugglers for trafficking opiates produced in Afghanistan. This situation clearly warrants urgent action to curb this dangerous trend. Firstly, our authorities should sit with their Afghan counterparts to improve security measures at the borders. The Afghan side needs to give up intransigence and support, supplement Pakistan’s efforts for border management. Most importantly amendments in Pak-Afghan Transit Trade should be introduced at the earliest to check pilferage of transit goods. Pakistan shares lengthy and arduous borders with Afghanistan and Iran where there is nominal presence of Customs officials and the border is mainly maintained by other law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
Due to volatile law and order situation in the region, it is very difficult for Pakistan Customs to operate freely and curb smuggling. It is, therefore, most important that Customs Department is equipped with highly trained manpower as well as latest equipment to deal with this menace. Strict action also needs to be taken in the country against those selling smuggled items.