ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Wednesday claimed that security authorities had unearthed an alleged terror-crime network supplying weapons to members of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with links to an arms route originating in Afghanistan.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the network was traced during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) that led investigators to a suspected arms dealer identified as Zia.
According to Chaudhry, Zia, an AJK resident, had been involved in the illegal weapons trade for between eight and 10 years and had allegedly been supplying arms to close associates of the banned JAAC for around two years.
The AJK government had declared JAAC a proscribed organisation on June 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), accusing the group of involvement in terrorist activities.
Chaudhry said the decision to ban the organisation had been taken on the basis of evidence available to the authorities. During the briefing, he also played footage of earlier media reports concerning violence allegedly linked to JAAC.
Suspected arms supply chain
The minister said investigators had established a link between Zia and a person identified as Majid, whom he described as a close associate of Sardar Aman, an active member of the proscribed organisation.
A purported telephone conversation between Zia and Majid was played during the press conference. The two men could allegedly be heard discussing the procurement and delivery of weapons.
Chaudhry further claimed that Zia was connected with another individual, Zarshad, who allegedly transported arms from Afghanistan to Bara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Another purported phone conversation played at the briefing allegedly contained a discussion about the supply of assault rifles and ammunition.
The minister also alleged that a government employee had facilitated the movement of weapons into the region and claimed that individuals from the political sphere were also connected to the alleged terror-crime network.
Afghan soil being used for terrorism: minister
At the outset of the press conference, Chaudhry said security agencies were conducting around 200 intelligence-based operations across the country every day.
He alleged that Afghan territory was being used as a base for terrorist activities targeting Pakistan.
Describing Afghanistan as a “super proxy”, the minister alleged that Pakistan faced terrorism emanating from its western border while its eastern neighbour was involved in sponsoring militant activities.
The allegations presented by the minister were made as part of the government’s briefing on the alleged weapons network; the claims would require independent verification.
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