16 February 2004	Monday	24 Zilhaj 1424

PANJSHIR VALLEY, Feb 15: An assortment of heavy weapons were removed on Sunday from Afghanistan's famous Panjshir Valley, the seat of anti-Taliban resistance, as villagers complained that the disarmament process amounted to a loss of their heritage.

In the third phase of heavy weapons collection from Panjshir, a number of strategic weapons were handed over to the nascent Afghan National Army, in what is seen a critical effort to improve security in the country.

"One Scud rocket, one Luna rocket, eight Organ rocket launchers and four tanks are being taken to Kabul to be handed over to the national army," Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammed Zahir Azimi said from Jabal Siraj at the entrance to the valley.

Azimi told reporters that tens of tanks, armoured vehicles and rockets had been taken out of the valley in earlier phases which began in December. The disarmament of some 100,000 to 200,000 militiamen scattered around the country, as well as the removal of heavy weapons belonging to warlords, is seen as critical to the establishment of the rule of law in the country.

However, Panjshir villagers were unhappy that the arms were being removed from their valley, saying that they had inherited the weapons from Ahmad Shah Massood.

"We fought for freedom of Afghanistan and lost our hero leader Massood," militia soldier Mohammed Agha said. "We rescued the country from Taliban and Soviet invasion, now they are taking the weapons we had saved by our blood and give us nothing instead. We have no roads, no schools and no clinics."

Other villagers and soldiers complained as they watched tanks and weapons rumble down the road on the way to the capital. "They are taking away our weapons, with simple weapons we managed to capture these Scud rockets," one militiaman said.

"These weapons are the property of thousands of martyrs," said another resident. "Why does heavy weapons collection start first in Panjshir. First they should do it all over Afghanistan and take weapons from those commanders who fight each other. These weapons were safe and are safe here."

The heavy weapons collection programme was initiated by former anti-Taliban Northern Alliance leader, now Defence Minister General Mohammed Qaseem Fahim, in the Panjshir Valley in December.

Deputy commander of the Nato-led international peacekeeping force in the country Major General Wolfgang Korte said the collection of weapons would lead to improved security in war-ravaged Afghanistan and should be applauded. -AFP