KOHAT, May 10: With normalcy slowly returning to Darra Adamkhel, the illicit arms trade at the old bazaar is picking up with every passing day.

Sitting in his shop in the bazaar a trader, Asmatullah, told this correspondent that business in the arms market was returning to 'normal' after it mostly remained suspended since 2007 in the wake of military operation against the militants.

“Every shot fired in the air in the local bazaar means that a weapon has been sold after proper check,” said Asmatullah. These days the passengers crossing Darra Adamkhel on Kohat-Peshawar road often hear gunshots after every few seconds, which is a proof that gun manufacturing and selling has been picking up and people are less afraid of militants now.

Used to hearing sounds of heavy artillery firing at the hideouts of militants and blowing up of government buildings such as schools the tribesmen now say that influential harbourers of militants have left the area and their presence in bazaar is almost negligible.

Earlier, armed masked militants would patrol the bazaar and even kill local people on suspicion.

Few years ago, the local craftsmen would prohibit people from taking snapshots and making movies of their arms shops and factories because the TTP had declared weapons business haram (un-Islamic). But now the arms traders are cheerful and welcome the visitors for window shopping as usual.

A bearded shopkeeper in the arms bazaar said that the Darra tribesmen faced the bad days being stuck between the army and militants because they would patronise all sorts of crimes such as gambling, kidnapping for ransom, highway robberies and providing shelter to criminals from settled areas of the country.

During the past few years, the government forcefully checked all the illegal practices, but gave a sort of freedom to arms manufacturing. The government also employed local craftsmen at Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Wah, which they could not continue due to low salary.

An ordinary arms manufacturer can make a pistol in two days and earn at least Rs1,000. However, experienced people making automatic guns such a replica of Kalashnikov earn from Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 per weapon.

The establishment of arms showroom near the bazaar by the authorities to attract foreign visitors and buyers was liked by the local tribesmen, but growing acts of militancy jeopardised the project.

However, some companies are exporting shotguns under the watch of authorities in an attempt to curb smuggling and provide alternative legal business to the Darra arms manufacturers. Majority of the operators of arms and ammunition factories and artisans belongs to Punjab whose number is now growing, as they have started coming back after a marked improvement in the security situation in the area.