The speed of ANBP’s cantonment programme was stepped up in the summer of 2004 by an offer of assistance from ISAF and the Coalition. The partners could provide nationwide coverage through their network of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The partnership built upon ISAF’s earlier success. ISAF V volunteered in January 2004 to assume responsibility for cantoning all known HW's in its Area of Operation, in and around Kabul. ISAF subsequently declared Kabul free of Heavy Weapons in September 04.

Cantoning the larger HW’s is a huge logistical issue. The problems involved in locating, negotiating, transporting, fueling and lifting the vehicles are considerable and compounded further, by the distances, poor infrastructure and the restrictions imposed on the Programme by the terrain and weather.

The location of the 15 regional cantonment sites, Gardez, Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul (6), Kandahar, Kunduz (4) and Mazar, were agreed in advance with the MoD and ANBP. All HW’s stored in those guarded cantonment sites were immediately deactivated by removing and relocating the weapon’s breech block, fuel pump etc. The HW's were then catalogued and are regularly inspected to ensure that all is in order.

To date, the 12,273 HW’s are jointly held by ANBP and the MoD. The intention is to ultimately hand some of the HW’s over to the Afghan National Army as and when its capacity increases and the need arises. To date, 530 pieces, classified as artillery, anti aircraft, anti tank and mortars, have been handed over to the ANA but the bulk, comprising about 18% of the total, of communist era main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, although functioning, are unlikely to ever be called into service. ANA personnel are currently being trained by NATO to establish modern Afghan armored units that use the latest technology that meet the demands of modern warfare.

Heavy weapons were redefined by the MoD to include any weapon with a caliber of more then 14mm and operated by more then one person.

The following are examples of the types of heavy weapons found in country after almost 25 years of conflict.

	Main Battle Tank		Main Battle Tank
	T34		T55
	T54		T62
	Light Armored Vehicles		Light Armored Vehicles
	BMP2		BMP1
	BTR70		BMP1
	BTR60		BTR80

	BRDM1		BRDM2
	Multiple Launch Rocket Systems		Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
	BM13		BM-12
	BM14		BM-12
	BM-21		BM 22-27
	LUNA-frog7		BM 22-27
	S3 Rocket motors		SCUD
	SCUDS		SCUD
	Artilery		Artilery
	D-1		D-1
	D30		D20
	130mm		M-30
	85mm		100mm
	ZIS-3		ZIS-2
	ZIS-3		ZIS-2
	Anti Aircraft		Anti Aircraft
	DSHK2		Anti-Aircraft
	KS12		KS-19
	KS-30		KS-19
	ZPU1-14.5mm-AntiAir		ZSU-23-4-Shilka- 23mm-Antiaircraft
	M1939-(Type-55)-37mm-Auto		ZU23-23mm-Antiair
	Mortars		Mortars
	SPG-9		82mm
	120 mm		Machine gun
	Additional photos from the field		Additional photos from the field