Taliban Pledge to Crack Down on Arms and Human Trafficking

DID Press: A spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense says protecting Afghanistan’s borders and preventing the trafficking of weapons, people and goods have been among the priorities of the group’s defense forces over the past five years.

Sediqullah Nusrat, spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense, said the ministry, in cooperation with security agencies, regularly implements programs to prevent smuggling inside Afghanistan and in border areas.

Nusrat claimed that as a result of these measures, attempts to illegally transport weapons and other goods have been identified and thwarted, and that people are not allowed to engage in human or goods trafficking.

He also said defense forces are working to secure Afghanistan’s borders and will not allow actions that, according to him, could lead to insecurity and instability.

The remarks come as border security and efforts to prevent smuggling remain important security issues in Afghanistan.