Crackdown on illegal arms kicks off in Kabul

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Security forces began a nationwide crackdown on illegal arms and tinted car windows from Kabul on Wednesday, two weeks after the Interior Ministry announced a new strategy on arms possession in the country.

Announcing the new strategy, the Interior Ministry had expressed the hope that the campaign would result into reducing the threat of illegal arms to a great extent until zero. Only 9mm pistol and arms in 7.62 caliber are conditionally allowed under the new policy. However, guards of government and private individuals even carry RPG and heavy machineguns.

On the day one of the campaign, security forces confiscated an RPG-7 rocket from a person at Abdul Khaliq square and a Kalashnikov from two men for lacking permits. In the same area, tinted glasses were removed a number of vehicles including those of police and armored vehicles.

However, the police were unable to get removed the tint from one vehicle as its owner said he worked as head of a section at the Supreme Court.

However, Interior Ministry spokesman Najibullah Danish said the law would be enforced on all citizens equally. He said police and intelligence officials had launched the similar drive in various parts of Kabul. He said the campaign would continue for some weeks in Kabul city before it was extended to Kabul districts and then other provinces.

Similar campaigns had been conducted in the past as well, but people in Kabul and province continue to complain about the presence of illegal armed individuals.