Kabul Police Launches Crackdown On Illegal Arms

AVA- Police in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Wednesday launched a week-long campaign against illegal arms and cars with tinted windows in a move to collect the illegal weapons as part of its efforts to curb violence.

However, on the first day of the campaign, the police were faced with some challenges while ordering powerful persons and government officials to remove the black plastic sheeting from their cars’ windows. The response by those defying police order angered some of the security forces on the roads.

But, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said that the program will apply to everyone, regardless of their position.

“The individuals who refuse to respect the orders and the traffic signs at the checkpoints, will be dealt in line with the prevailing laws of Afghanistan,” said MoI spokesman Najib Danish.

Meanwhile, a number of people who have guards have raised questions about the nature of the program by the security forces.

“They should work on a program to clarify, for instance, if a lawmaker can carry the gun or if an investor is also allowed to carry gun. Today we saw one person that had over 50 guns,” said local investor, Maula Mohammad Paiman.

The Afghan police are expected to expand the campaign into other provinces once the program is wrapped up in Kabul.

Interior ministry says that the distribution of licenses for arms will be completed in four phases within six months.