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Kalashnikov assault rifle demand soars in northwest Pakistan | World Breaking News | News.com.au
Kalashnikov assault rifle demand soars in northwest Pakistan
From correspondents in Peshawar
Agence France-Presse
July 22, 2009 12:06pm
Civilians too, frightened by the upsurge in violence and citing a lack of government protection, are also forking out to arm themselves with a weapon that has come to symbolise violent struggle the world over.
Easy to use, hard to jam and the preferred killing machine of guerillas, security forces and terror merchants, the humble Kalashnikov has never been more highly prized in the wilds of Pakistan.
As a result, in the northwest capital Peshawar, and Darra Adam Khel, outside government control in the tribal belt on the Afghan border, prices have jumped as much as five times in a year, to up to $US1500 ($1836).
"You see there is war in the tribal areas. The Taliban need this weapon and tribesmen need this weapon against Taliban," said Habib Khan, a Peshawar arms dealer.
The military is currently engaged in a major offensive in the northwest against Taliban amid fears in Islamabad and ally Washington that the militants were gaining increasing influence and ground in Pakistan.
http://www.news.com.au/features/0,,5019120,00.html
At Darra Adam Khel, home to one of the biggest private arms' markets in Asia, prices vary according to quality: German-made is most expensive, local produce cheapest.
"There was a time when a Chinese-made Kalashnikov was available for 25,000 to 35,000 rupees. Now the price has risen to 100,000 rupees,'' Qalandar Shah told AFP by telephone from his arms shop in Darra Adam Khel.
"The main reason, in my opinion, is the war-like situation. Secondly, the gap between supply and demand widened because of Talibanisation," he said.
Mr Shah has been selling guns in Darra Adam Khel for 25 years, he said. When he started out, Peshawar was seething with US and Pakistani spies bankrolling and arming the mujahedeen to evict Soviet occupiers from neighbouring Afghanistan. It was during those years that the Kalashnikov, also referred to as the AK-47, flooded into Pakistan.
After the 2001 US-led invasion evicted the Taliban from government in Afghanistan, hundreds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked radicals seeped across the border into Pakistan, culminating in April in the current government offensive.
Around 2000 Pakistani troops have died fighting Islamists opposed to Islamabad's alliance with the United States, and another 2000 people have been killed in an escalating bombing campaign across the country in two years.
"If the situation carries on like this, demand for this weapon will rise and prices will go up more and more," said Mr Shah.
The AK-47 was developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1940s and since then has been produced all over the world.
In Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel, a German-made AK-47 retails at 125,000 rupees, the Iranian version goes for 35,000 rupees and the Darra Adam Khel-made Kalashnikov a bargain 13,000 rupees.
"All these weapons used to be available on the local market at very low prices, but in just a year it shot up like a bullet," Mr Shah said.
"I remember a time when 10 bullets were only 10 rupees. It was some years back,'' he said.
Today, 10 rounds cost 285 rupees ($4.90).
The Taliban and Al-Qaeda adherents in Afghanistan and Iraq, and even groups fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir, have taken the gun to their hearts.
"This is a key weapon for Taliban and other militant groups because it is lightweight and gets good results," said Roohullah, a Peshawar arms dealer.
Residents have also armed themselves, either to fight in tribal militias against rebels or to protect their properties and families.
That is a lot of money for these people, i'd imagine. Its a lot of money for most people. Bullet prices are roughly on par with what they are here. 7,62x39mm down the road from me are about $10 a pack of 20. If you have the correct licence you can buy SKS semi autos in Australia for ~$600. Not quite the same thing but still, a lot cheaper than over there.
But yeah main point of Thread apart from guns is, Does the Pakistani govt have any control over this area? Are they losing control or did they just never have any?
Kalashnikov assault rifle demand soars in northwest Pakistan
From correspondents in Peshawar
Agence France-Presse
July 22, 2009 12:06pm
Civilians too, frightened by the upsurge in violence and citing a lack of government protection, are also forking out to arm themselves with a weapon that has come to symbolise violent struggle the world over.
Easy to use, hard to jam and the preferred killing machine of guerillas, security forces and terror merchants, the humble Kalashnikov has never been more highly prized in the wilds of Pakistan.
As a result, in the northwest capital Peshawar, and Darra Adam Khel, outside government control in the tribal belt on the Afghan border, prices have jumped as much as five times in a year, to up to $US1500 ($1836).
"You see there is war in the tribal areas. The Taliban need this weapon and tribesmen need this weapon against Taliban," said Habib Khan, a Peshawar arms dealer.
The military is currently engaged in a major offensive in the northwest against Taliban amid fears in Islamabad and ally Washington that the militants were gaining increasing influence and ground in Pakistan.
http://www.news.com.au/features/0,,5019120,00.html
At Darra Adam Khel, home to one of the biggest private arms' markets in Asia, prices vary according to quality: German-made is most expensive, local produce cheapest.
"There was a time when a Chinese-made Kalashnikov was available for 25,000 to 35,000 rupees. Now the price has risen to 100,000 rupees,'' Qalandar Shah told AFP by telephone from his arms shop in Darra Adam Khel.
"The main reason, in my opinion, is the war-like situation. Secondly, the gap between supply and demand widened because of Talibanisation," he said.
Mr Shah has been selling guns in Darra Adam Khel for 25 years, he said. When he started out, Peshawar was seething with US and Pakistani spies bankrolling and arming the mujahedeen to evict Soviet occupiers from neighbouring Afghanistan. It was during those years that the Kalashnikov, also referred to as the AK-47, flooded into Pakistan.
After the 2001 US-led invasion evicted the Taliban from government in Afghanistan, hundreds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked radicals seeped across the border into Pakistan, culminating in April in the current government offensive.
Around 2000 Pakistani troops have died fighting Islamists opposed to Islamabad's alliance with the United States, and another 2000 people have been killed in an escalating bombing campaign across the country in two years.
"If the situation carries on like this, demand for this weapon will rise and prices will go up more and more," said Mr Shah.
The AK-47 was developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1940s and since then has been produced all over the world.
In Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel, a German-made AK-47 retails at 125,000 rupees, the Iranian version goes for 35,000 rupees and the Darra Adam Khel-made Kalashnikov a bargain 13,000 rupees.
"All these weapons used to be available on the local market at very low prices, but in just a year it shot up like a bullet," Mr Shah said.
"I remember a time when 10 bullets were only 10 rupees. It was some years back,'' he said.
Today, 10 rounds cost 285 rupees ($4.90).
The Taliban and Al-Qaeda adherents in Afghanistan and Iraq, and even groups fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir, have taken the gun to their hearts.
"This is a key weapon for Taliban and other militant groups because it is lightweight and gets good results," said Roohullah, a Peshawar arms dealer.
Residents have also armed themselves, either to fight in tribal militias against rebels or to protect their properties and families.
That is a lot of money for these people, i'd imagine. Its a lot of money for most people. Bullet prices are roughly on par with what they are here. 7,62x39mm down the road from me are about $10 a pack of 20. If you have the correct licence you can buy SKS semi autos in Australia for ~$600. Not quite the same thing but still, a lot cheaper than over there.
But yeah main point of Thread apart from guns is, Does the Pakistani govt have any control over this area? Are they losing control or did they just never have any?
