Despite Iran's Criticism, Taliban Claims Afghanistan Not A Drug Threat
The Taliban's Ministry of Interior said on Monday that drugs have been eradicated in Afghanistan and are no longer a threat to countries around the world.
The Taliban's Ministry of Interior said on Monday that drugs have been eradicated in Afghanistan and are no longer a threat to countries around the world.
At the same time, Iran’s Chief of Police said that there is "no sign of reduced drug cultivation in Afghanistan”.
Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Interior, wrote on X social media platform on Monday, that the Taliban has "eliminated the scope of drugs from Afghanistan in a short time with limited resources”.
He added, "Currently, there is no drug-related threat from Afghanistan to neighbouring countries and the world."
Qani called on international organisations to provide alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers.
The United Nations, in its latest report, stated that although poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has decreased, the production of recreational drugs, especially methamphetamine, has increased by the same measure.
Iranian officials have repeatedly criticised the Taliban's inability to combat drugs. Most recently, Ahmad Reza Radan, Iran's Chief of Police, said at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking conference on Monday that "there is no sign of reduced drug cultivation in Afghanistan today”.
He cited "the presence of US" as one of the reasons for drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan, adding that increased drug cultivation in Afghanistan has led to higher drug transit and consumption in other countries.
Meanwhile, Iran’s commander of border guards in Khorasan Razavi reported the seizure of 198 kilograms of drugs near the Afghan border on Saturday.
Previously, the Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, Eskandar Momeni also said that there is no decrease in the production, growth, and trafficking of drugs in Afghanistan.
Momeni urged the United Nations to consider drugs in Afghanistan as a serious threat.
