Chinese weapons reaching Taliban

London, Sept 4: The Taliban in Afghanistan are in possession of sophisticated Chinese made weapons that has led to the British Government privately complaining to Beijing about it.

There have been several occasions when Chinese arms have been recovered from Afghan insurgents, after their attack against the British and the US forces were neutralised.

This is the first time that Britain has asked China about investigating how its arms are ending up with the Taliban.

"Chinese HN-5 anti-aircraft missiles are with the Taleban, we know this... and we are worried where do the Taliban get them, some of these weapons have been made recently in Chinese factories," the BBC quoted a senior Afghan official, as saying.

Among the 'sophisticated' Chinese weapons believed to be in possession with the Taliban are Chinese-made surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, landmines, rocket-propelled grenades and components for roadside bombs.

Though Beijing has assured London that investigations will be carried out, questions on how the weapons reached Taleban are being pondered over.

Earlier, Taliban used to get Chinese weapons from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and arms smuggler in the region, but now the possibility of Islamabad's role in providing the Afghan insurgents such kind of high precision weapons are considered to be remote.

"It is extremely unlikely the ISI would now allow them access to anti-aircraft missiles or armour-piercing ammunition," the BBC reported, adding that the Afghan government "considers China to be a friend, and a much less meddlesome ally than the other big player in its neighbourhood, India".

Fingers are being pointed to Iran, as it would not be in China's interest to arm Pakistan-based militants, who are frequently attacking Chinese workers in Pakistan in recent years.

So instead of Pakistan being the transit point for these weapons, Iran is being suspected to supply weapons to Taleban as Iranian intelligence agencies have been more active in southern Afghanistan post-9/11.

US officials have recently been quoted as saying that China has been selling arms to Iran which Iran is then passing on to insurgent groups in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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