Afghanistan - Guns

When it comes to gun love, the Afghanis have no equal. Afghanistan has more guns per capita than anywhere else on earth. England allowed the Pathans to manufacture their own guns 200 years ago, and the CIA delivered enough weapons to keep the region swimming in weaponry for years to come. But this was all dwarfed by the stockpiles of weapons the Russians abandoned or lost in the ten years of warfare. One Afghan gunman philosophically pointed out to DP the unique relationship Afghanis have with their ballistic toys when he said, "You have your cameras, and we have our guns."

If the containers and warehouses full of pristine weapons aren't enough, the Affridi tribe of Afghanistan and Pakistan still pumps out about 900 to 1,200 copies of modern weapons a day in its gun factories in Darra Adam Khel.

Happiness Is a Worn Gun

For those who can't resist a bargain, the best place to buy guns is actually just outside Afghanistan in Pakistan. You can hire a gunman for about $20 a day, but if you want to shop for that special hard-to-please someone, take along an Afghan guide and go visit the Smugglers Bazaar (20 minutes east of Peshawar) in Darra (about 40 minutes south of Peshawar). Although Darra has been officially closed for two years to outsiders you can still buy a worn but serviceable AK-47 for $200. Pros know to buy the short Chinese-made assault versions, since their barrels don't heat up as much and they can be concealed under your shwaler qamiz. These go for about $375D$1,000 Chinese- and Russian-made pistols are between $10D$100, with the Pakistani-made knockoffs at the low end of the price spectrum.

Rambos can pick up Chinese and Russian rocket launchers for just under a grand and rockets by the case for 400 rupees (US$125) each. Grenades are a bargain at US$3 each. Perfect for that kidnap scenario when you threaten to pull the pin. Other items for sales at bargain basement prices include land mines, antiaircraft guns, bazookas, Stalin OrganDstyle rocket launchers (the self-propelled kind) and even lovely used Russian T-55 tanks.

Wanna-bes who don't want to be arrested in Darra can head north of Peshawar to Sakahot and see guns being made from cheap pig iron. Lookee loos who appreciate the smell of cordite and the sound of tinnitus can arrange to fire automatic weapons in the nearby gorge. One banana clip of 30 bullets will set you back about ten bucks. Cheap, even by Coney Island standards. The hottest selling items are still the pen guns that fire a single bullet and can be used to write ransom notes. They are a measly six dollars. Naturally, you will need a complete Soviet eraDuniform, bayonets, combat gear, watches, boxes of uncirculated rubles (wrapped and still in serial number order) and medals to complete your Cold War GI Joe play kit.