ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Sept 26 (NNN-ANA) – The Afghan security forces have collected hundreds of pieces of weapons, as locals willingly handed over their arms and ammunition to local authorities, in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, yesterday.

“The weapons handed over to local authorities today (yesterday), include nine anti-aircraft guns, 135 pieces of U.S.-made M16 assault rifles, 65 AK-47 rifles, 19 pieces of mortars, several RPG-7 and scores of light and heavy weapons, besides thousands of bullets,” Ghaziabad district chief, Qari Zia Ur-Rahman, told reporters.

At a ceremony attended by Defence Ministry officials, they called upon people to hand over their weapons to the Taliban-led caretaker government.

“The weapons collected in Ghaziabad district, will be handed over to the relevant security agencies, through a transparent process,” Mawlawi Sayedullah, an official from the Defence Ministry, said at the ceremony.

Following the hasty withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Aug last year, a large amount of military equipment, including thousands of military vehicles, light and heavy firearms, plenty of ammunition, went missing in Afghansitan.

The Afghan caretaker administration has been trying to collect arms and ammunitions from individuals, as parts of efforts to ensure lasting peace in the war-torn country.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK