KABUL, June 18: Afghan security personnel have seized a large cache of smuggled arms and ammunition in the Kunar province, said the Ministry of National Defence.
The forces of the 201st Khalid bin Walid Army Corps launched a series of search operations aimed at securing all kinds of smuggled weapons and arms caches, and apprehend weapon smugglers, reports Kabul Times.
During the operation, security forces successfully seized a total of 11 different types of weapons, which include seven Kalashnikov rifles, two hand grenades, 6,024 rounds of pistol ammunition, 4,000 Kalashnikov shells, and several other military items, the statement said
Security personnel had previously also discovered and confiscated hundreds of weapons and a large quantity of ammunition in a series of targeted operations conducted across various provinces of the country, according to the statement.
The Taliban government has launched various operations to curb arms smuggling, as part of its broader efforts to ensure national security, and dismantle networks posing threats to public safety, Kabul Times added.
The Afghan interim government has vowed to seize all smuggled caches, to ensure that security personnel alone have access to weapons. However, the problem is a long-standing issue, as illegal weapons continue to make their way into Afghanistan via Pakistan, Iran, and some border areas of Central Asian nations. (UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
