ISLAMABAD, March 9: Human rights activist Ansar Burney Advocate has accused Afghan government officials of being involved in human trafficking. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International chairman said the incidents of abduction and trafficking from Pakistan to Afghanistan had alarmingly increased.

He said human traffickers were also reportedly involved in selling organs of innocent children. He said children and young girls were being abducted from many parts of Pakistan and taken to Afghanistan. However, due to the involvement of Afghan government officials, the victims have no hope of rescue or protection.

These victims are sold to customers in Afghanistan and to agents for further sales abroad. A number of these children are used for bonded labour, while others end up working as camel jockeys.

The majority of abducted girls are sold into prostitution abroad or to Afghan businessmen and officials for marriage, entertainment of guests, slavery or for collecting ransom.

Mr Burney said during several missions to Afghanistan recently for various humanitarian reasons, the trust employees discovered women markets, where local and smuggled girls were being sold and bought like animals.

On complaints to local authorities, no action was taken. Instead, the trust staff was threatened and forced to leave. Even after reports of these incidents were sent to the Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad, no action was taken, Mr Burney said.

He asked the governments of Pakistan, the US, China, European Union, United Nations and international human rights NGOs to put a stop to such activities taking place under the protection of the Afghan government officials.

Trafficking has become a new way to make money for criminal groups and warlords in Afghanistan, and distressingly the same elements happen to be in the government. Therefore, they get away with anything, Mr Burney said.

He urged President Gen Pervez Musharraf to beef up border security to keep vigil on Afghan nationals involved in such crimes. He also called for urgent steps to ensure safe return of all Pakistanis languishing in the private prisons of Afghan warlords.