Reports on whether Iranian opposition groups in Pakistan were or are involved in arms smuggling into Afghanistan could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A 1995 AFP report states that police in Karachi suspected that among the more than two million illegal immigrants residing in Karachi, including some 600,000 Afghans, there were gangs who were involved in drug and weapon smuggling (2 May 1995).

In terms of measures and legal action taken by the Pakistani government, a 29 August 1995 Xinhua report states that the government under Benazir Bhutto banned the sale of heavy weapons, such as multi-barrel rocket launchers and surface-to-surface missiles, in Pakistan's tribal areas bordering with Afghanistan. In these areas, the laws of the central government do not apply and as a result, the tribal groups engage in all kinds of weapon and ammunition smuggling to other parts of the country (ibid.). Furthermore, the tribal groups have taken up arms against government forces who have attempted to curb the smuggling in the area (ibid.).

Radio Pakistan reported in September 1995 that the federal cabinet had decided to amend its Arms Ordinance to include death sentences or life imprisonment for persons involved in weapon and ammunition trafficking (18 Sept. 1995). According to Khalid Ahmad Khan Kharal, the minister of information and broadcasting at the time, the rationale behind the amendment was to stop the trafficking of arms in Pakistan "as a backlash of the Afghan jihad" (ibid.). In March 1997, a decree to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for persons trafficking, selling or processing illicit arms was issued for a period of 120 days (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 8 Mar. 1997). Two of the reasons behind the increase of illegal weapons in Pakistan was reportedly the civil war in Afghanistan, and sectarian conflict between militant Shiite and Sunni Muslim that have flooded Pakistan with illicit arms, including assault rifles known as the "Kalashnikovs" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 2 May 1995. "Afghan Gunmen Kill Two Policemen in Karachi." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 8 March 1997. "Pakistan Imposes Death For Trafficking, Possession of Illicit Arms." (NEXIS)

Radio Pakistan [Islamabad, in English]. 18 September 1995. "Pakistan Introduces Death Penalty for Arms Trafficking." (BBC Summary 20 Sept. 1995/NEXIS)

Xinhua. 29 August 1995. "Pakistan Bans Sale of Heavy Arms in Tribal Areas." (NEXIS)

Asia Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. 1997-1998.

Indexed Media Review: Pakistan. 1993-1998.

Jane's Information Group, Surrey, UK.

Jane's Intelligence Review [Surrey, UK]. 1993-1998.

Human Rights Watch World Report. 1996-1998.

News from Asia Watch [New York]. 1993-1995.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).