Huge weapon consignment seized on Afghan border

Smugglers flee leaving behind shipment after shootout with FC

QUETTA: Balochistan authorities claimed to have foiled a terror bid backed by Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies by seizing a huge quantity of weapons and explosives after a shoot-out near Nushki on the Pak-Afghan border.

On Friday, Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said the Pakistani intelligence operatives and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel thwarted the bid to smuggle a massive amount of guns and explosives.



Addressing a news conference in Quetta along with FC DIG Brig Tahir Mehmood, he said hostile foreign agencies were bringing in the shipment for Baloch militants that was seized at Manjara Nala near the border.

After an exchange of fire with the smugglers, 25 mortar bombs, 48kg explosives, 3,500 9mm rounds, 12,360 rounds of sniper rifles,four anti-personnel mines, three rocket-propelled grenades and 37 detonators were seized. The suspects fled while leaving behind the shipment.

“The soil of Afghanistan is being used for destabilising Pakistan and creating bloodshed in Balochistan,” Bugti alleged, adding it would damage both the countries.



The home minister said the weapons were to be used in terrorism across Balochistan.

Militants have frequently attacked security forces and national installations in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2016.