RUNNING GUNS IN KABUL

The stereotype of perpetual warfare in Afghanistan has plagued the country since December of 1979, when the Soviet 40th Army came pouring across the Amu Daryua. This kicked off an era of foreign-sponsored insurgency, a resulting civil war that devastated the once great city of Kabul, Taliban rule, and, currently, the second decade of a heavily U.S.-backed presence. However, this “perpetual warfare” hasn’t always been the case in Afghan history; in fact it’s a tragically unique spell of continued violence throughout the modern era.

But to fight a war — or any kind of armed conflict — arms must be acquired. We examine three of the primary small arms markets within the capital city of Kabul. We explore what’s available, in what quantities, and for how many good American dollars.

And so long as we’re discussing the arms trade in Afghanistan, we also address the legalities of purchasing a firearm in the city, along with illegal methods.

LEGAL(ISH)

The overwhelming majority of modern small arms outside of Afghan government control are technically illegal without a special permit