ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities said on Tuesday they seized more than 21,000 rounds of arms and ammunition at the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan amid persistent security challenges along the volatile frontier separating the two countries.
The seizure was made during routine cargo screening at the customs station in Torkham, where officials flagged a suspicious vehicle, bearing registration number TAH-027, which arrived from Afghanistan and was shifted to a terminal for scanning, according to a statement from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
A subsequent physical inspection uncovered submachine-gun bullets and rifle cartridges concealed in the vehicle, the statement added.
“Pakistan Customs authorities at Torkham foiled a major attempt to smuggle arms and ammunition into Pakistan, seizing over 21,000 rounds of SMG and rifle cartridges along with other arms,” the FBR said.
“This incident is being treated as a deliberate and organized attempt to undermine public safety and national security,” it continued, adding that a criminal case had been registered and further legal proceedings were underway.
Authorities said customs officials were coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the attempted smuggling, without providing details on the origin or intended destination of the weapons.
The seizure comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the two neighbors having witnessed border closures and security clashes along their frontier last year, disrupting trade and movement and prompting heightened scrutiny of cross-border traffic.
Torkham is one of the busiest crossings between the two countries and a key transit point for commercial goods.
Pakistan’s revenue authorities said they remained committed to curbing smuggling and safeguarding national revenue.
