Zia’s war long over – NATO forces still exchanging heroin for weapons

KARACHI
TARIQ HABIB
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan might not have heard of General Zia-ul-Haq, but drugs are being smuggled to them by tribes living along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Pakistan Today has learnt. ISAF troops, seemingly short on cash, are paying for these drugs by supplying weapons to those who provide them with heroin.
Heroin is being smuggled by transporters responsible for taking supplies to the ISAF troops, and who operate on the Karachi-to-Kabul and Karachi-to-Kandahar routes. Many purchase heroin from different cities en route Afghanistan, who in turn, endow these transports with sophisticated weapons.
One of the drivers, talking to Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity, claimed that he was crossing Jalalabad in January when some persons asked him to deliver a television set to American troops.
“I mistakenly damaged the television and replaced it with a new one, so that the American troops in Kabul don’t complain. But when I was returning, I thoroughly monitored the TV given by the Afghan, and discovered that packets of heroin were lined inside the television set,” the driver said.
When the driver asked around, he was told by his colleagues that some drivers provide heroin to the NATO troops in exchange for weapons. The weapons, in turn, are sold to tribes that live on the Pak-Afghan border. The weapons are lined in cavities inside the goods containers that transport supplies to the ISAF troops, sources claimed.
American weapons, on the other hand, have become a source of prestige for these tribes. The quantity of guns, pistols, and hand grenades that any tribe has is now defining how elevated their standing is among others, and the pressures they can exert on others, sources explained.
Sources argued that the smuggling of heroin in return for weapons goes unchecked because American officials abet this trade. “American officials are well aware of the situation, but are not interested to clamp down on this practice because of their involvement. Those involved have close ties with the chieftain of three tribes living in the border areas,” sources said.
The American officials are in direct touch with these chieftains, and transporters often act as messengers between tribes and the ISAF forces. “Some drivers get weapons and even deliver it to different tribes in the border areas,” sources explained, adding that transporters stay in the border areas and even arrange meetings between various chieftains.
It’s a win-win situation for the transporters: many have now come to regard this racket as a “business” since they receive handsome bribes from both the Americans and the tribal chieftains. More drivers are now getting involved in this trade, because neither do they get caught nor do they fear getting apprehended.
Those who regularly visit Afghanistan to deliver supplies to ISAF troops have developed links with some American officials, a transporter told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity. “Drivers receive weapons and instructions from American troops, and complete the deal without any risk of being caught,” he said.
“These drivers return to Pakistan through the same route, stay in the same areas along the borders, provide weapons to the chieftains, and get money from both sides.