From night vision goggles and high-powered binoculars to various kinds of guns and rifles, all are being sold openly, according to reports in the Pakistani media.

"The sale of high-tech US weapons in Peshawar is extremely disturbing to say the least," said a report in 'The Nation' newspaper, which added that "these weapons falling into the hands of militants suggest that there is a whole mafia involved in weapon acquisition and sale, apart from the looting of NATO convoys" on their way to Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass.

It observed that despite "a ban on display and sale of weapons of the sort, the business is going on in the market" and asked law enforcement agencies to take stern action against those involved in "the dangerous business".

"It is quite alarming to learn that militant organisations like the Taliban and various others with their own terrorist agendas could easily acquire them posing a serious risk to the security of the country. There are already reports indicating that a number of modern combat vehicles like Humvees are in possession of the Taliban," the report said.

The report came in the backdrop of a threat by the Taliban to attack Islamabad by sending its fighters "as a reaction to the operations in Darra Adamkhel and Swat Valley."

The threat came in the form of wall writings appearing in the Pakistani capital "forcing the Islamabad administration to whitewash these messages quickly," another prominent daily 'The News' said.

It said several religious scholars in Islamabad also received warnings from the Taliban saying they had only two options -- either to support the Taliban or leave the capital.