Smuggling via Pak-Afghan border ‘a major security risk’

LANDIKOTAL: An official at Torkham border said on Monday that cross-border smuggling of different goods provided a channel to anti-Pakistan elements to shift weapons and other contraband items for use in acts of terrorism in Pakistan.
The official, requesting anonymity, said goods worth millions of rupees were smuggled daily through Torkham gate, Bacha Mena and some unfrequented routes along the Pak-Afghan border in Landikotal.
He claimed that local militants and Indian and Israeli agents used the routes to spread terrorism in Pakistan.The official said that last month the Frontier Corps (FC) produced before the media Rs64 million cash and gold ornaments that had been seized at the Torkham border. The security forces claimed to have arrested 18 terrorists.
On the other hand, sources said that around 20 Afghan and Pakistani smugglers were busy smuggling non-Customs paid items across the border. They said the smugglers paid a handsome amount to the Landikotal and Torkham officials.
A goods smuggler at Torkham border, who wished not to be named, told The News that they daily paid Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 for each loaded pushcart to the Landikotal and Torkham administration officials.
He said there were around 20 main agents who take millions of rupees for taking goods across the border without payment of any tax to Afghan and Pakistani governments.
The man said each smuggler has his sub-agents and working children who help cross the goods across the border. He said around 300 children, including girls, were being used in this practice.
An official at Torkham said that smugglers broke the past records during the last two months. He said smuggling of foreign goods had become the order of the day.The official said they kept an eye on the border as Indian and Israeli agents in Afghanistan wanted to use the unfrequented routes to enter Pakistan.
He said the smuggling caused billions of rupees loss to the economy every day.The border official said the smuggled items are shifted across the border after paying Rs40,000 to Rs70,000 per consignment to Khassadar personnel. He said many times they recovered narcotics, weapons and other contraband items from the luggage.
“Khassadars allow loaded handcarts and pushcarts without security checking at entry points, which is a big security risk for the security forces,” said the official.Data collected in Torkham border town revealed that more than 3,000 loaded and empty trucks, around 2,000 loaded wheelbarrows and other handcarts daily cross the Afghan border.
The items being smuggled from and to Afghanistan include Indian medicines, used electronics, home appliances, cloth, auto tyres, cosmetics, auto spare parts, cooking oil, soap, juices, sugar, crockery, beverages, flour and other food items.
When contacted, Khyber Agency’s Political Agent Syed Shahab Ali Shah said he had taken strict action and stopped all kinds of movement via Torkham border. He said the Khassadars and clerical staff who had been involved in corruption have been transferred.The official said registration of Afghan nationals was a step that could also help reduce illegal movement across the border.