Islamabad, Nov 3 (NationPress) Recent findings have revealed that entities based in Pakistan are intricately linked to arms trafficking networks that extend beyond the borders of India and Afghanistan. These networks facilitate everything from Iranian arms shipments to Yemen's Houthi rebels to broader illicit markets across the Middle East and Africa, as reported on Monday.

According to investigative reports and official charges from the United States and Europe, it has been noted that Pakistani nationals have engaged in illegal exports of anti-aircraft ammunition and drone technology. This activity has further solidified Pakistan's reputation as a key logistical and facilitation hub for arms smuggling.

“A recent 40-year prison sentence given to Pakistani national Muhammad Pahlawan for smuggling Iranian weapons to Yemen's Houthi insurgents has highlighted the ongoing involvement of Pakistani individuals in international arms trafficking and organized crime. Pahlawan's conviction is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern, showcasing Pakistan's links to both regional and global illicit arms flows, which pose serious security threats worldwide,” detailed a report from Asian News Post.

According to this report, Muhammad Pahlawan was sentenced to 40 years in a US federal court in Virginia for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, violating weapons of mass destruction regulations, and illegally transporting advanced conventional arms.

“The US Justice Department revealed that Pahlawan was the captain of a fishing vessel used to transport sophisticated components of Iranian ballistic missiles, anti-ship missile parts, and warheads to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This operation was intercepted in the Arabian Sea in January 2024 and tragically resulted in the deaths of two US Navy SEALs during the boarding. Testimonies from the crew indicated that many were misled about their involvement, underscoring the transnational, secretive, and often coercive nature of these trafficking networks,” it stated.

The report also noted an evolution in the methods employed by Pakistani arms traffickers in recent years. The network, which previously relied on large-scale trucking operations, now utilizes techniques such as drone drops, maritime transfers, and covert border crossings, often orchestrated by organized crime groups with international connections.

Historical investigations have documented the involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military-backed syndicates in both arming foreign proxies and managing lucrative smuggling routes for profit and strategic influence. Some analysts contend that the inaction and denial from law enforcement have allowed criminal entities and militant suppliers to operate with considerable impunity, thus enhancing the resilience and reach of these networks.

“As long as criminal and state actors in Pakistan have the motive, opportunity, and network to facilitate illicit arms flows, both regional and global security will remain at risk. Whether supplying weapons to state clients, proxies, sectarian groups, or criminal syndicates, Pakistan’s involvement in arms smuggling is a longstanding issue that continues to pose a current threat,” the report concluded.