Law enforcement authorities have exposed a gold smuggling racket operating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that was funneling resources to Khawarij groups in Afghanistan, highlighting the deep-rooted financial pipelines sustaining cross-border terrorism. Six kilograms of gold seized at the Torkham border is now at the center of an anti-terrorism trial underway in Peshawar.
Prosecutors told the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), presided over by Judge Muhammad Iqbal Khan, that large consignments of gold were being trafficked from Peshawar and adjoining areas across the Afghan frontier to bankroll the operational machinery of Khawarij groups. The smugglers were allegedly providing a steady stream of financial lifelines to outfits responsible for orchestrating attacks on security forces and civilians inside Pakistan.
The network came to light after law enforcement agencies intercepted a vehicle at Torkham carrying six kilograms of gold. One suspect was immediately arrested, whose disclosures led investigators to identify 19 more individuals allegedly complicit in the smuggling chain. Prosecutors revealed that the recovered gold was earmarked for Khawarij networks entrenched in Afghanistan, which continue to plot and direct violence inside Pakistan.
During Tuesday’s hearing, three witnesses recorded statements linking the smugglers to cross-border terror financing. The court summoned additional witnesses for the next hearing, scheduled for September 4. Officials said the trial marks a critical step in dismantling the shadowy economy that enables Khawarij outfits to sustain their operations despite intensified counterterrorism campaigns.
Security officials noted that the case underscores Afghanistan’s continued role as a safe haven where militant groups rely on illegal funding streams from Pakistan. “Cutting off the money trail is just as important as neutralising armed fighters,” a senior counterterrorism official said, stressing that commodities like gold remain the backbone of Khawarij financing networks.
The revelations have triggered alarm across intelligence and law enforcement agencies, who now believe that terror outfits are exploiting smuggling routes not only for weapons and narcotics but also for precious metals to evade financial scrutiny. Authorities have vowed to intensify border checks, strengthen financial intelligence, and prosecute those complicit in aiding the Khawarij through economic means.
