Despite millions of small arms already being found within Afghanistan, 409 022 more small arms have been imported and redistributed since 2002, according to data received by Amnesty International. Yet there are less than 200 000 members of the Afghan security forces (including police, army and security services).

Vital safeguards regarding arms - such as stockpile management, human rights training, control of the use of force and transparent oversight - are still not in place.

Many of the weapons have been exported by NATO member states and their allies. During the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest (Romania), 2-4 April, Amnesty International and IANSA members expressed their concern that these weapons are fuelling serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Amnesty International recommends that two major problems must be addressed before such high levels of small arms exports can be justified:

1. The government armed units must be properly trained in their responsibilities under the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

2. Strengthen efforts by the international community to secure or destroy stockpiles of small arms and light weapons under the threat of proliferation in Afghanistan.