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| Nimroz province, Afghanistan (Click Image to Enlarge) |
by Tamim Hamid
Hundreds of Pakistani fighters have built strongholds in Khashrod district in Nimroz province and it is said they are helping drug smugglers and land grabbers in the southwestern parts of the country, a special report prepared by TOLOnews reveals.
Reports indicate that Pakistani military is helping the fighters in Nimroz, but Pakistan's embassy in Kabul rejects the involvement of its military in this aspect and says that the fighters are members of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Meanwhile, TOLOnews's findings reveal that there is a lack of forces, equipment and other military facilities in Afghan soldiers' counter-narcotics mission.
The findings show that every counter-narcotics soldier has one weapon and a magazine.
Nimroz has sandy hills which can be used for tourists, but according to locals, the areas are serving as good routes for drug and human smugglers.
Nimroz police said they are chasing smugglers in the hills, but their success depends on the signs the suspects leave after they enter or pass through the areas.
"You see the hills and plains. We are stopping them [smugglers] and their cars if they pass through this route," Nimroz police chief Jailani Abubakr said.
According to reports, Nimroz is recognized as one of the biggest routes for drug smuggling in Afghanistan. It shares 236 kilometers of border with Iran and 185 kilometers of border with Pakistan.
Read the full story at TOLOnews