The US Department of Commerce is restricting the export of firearms to non-governmental organizations in 36 "high-risk" countries, including Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, as reported on the website of the American agency.
The restrictions aim to tighten the export of firearms, ammunition, and related components under the jurisdiction of the American trade department. The measure is intended to "protect America's national security" and make it "difficult for criminals, terrorists, and cartels to access firearms of American production."
The announcement explains that "American firearms too often end up in the wrong hands and are directly used to undermine national security and US foreign policy interests."
The imposed restrictions will come into effect on May 30 of this year.
Among the countries listed as "high-risk," in addition to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, are the following states: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vietnam, and Yemen.
