KABUL - The biggest source of funding for their war effort is derived from drug-smuggling by the insurgents, says President Ashraf Ghani's second VP Mohammad, Sarwar Danish.
He said on Sunday that if drug smuggling was not curbed in the country, it would be difficult to attain long term peace and stability in the country.
The Minister of Counter-Narcotics Salamat Azimi also called for wider public cooperation to combat the drug production and smuggling networks in the country.
The Afghan government recently launched a nation-wide anti-drug campaign.
"Today the largest part of the illegal economy and financial sources of the armed opponents is the drug-smuggling trade. The insurgents are the biggest drug dealers and supporters of drug cultivation. Consequently the security of Afghanistan and the world is threatened by drug smuggling," said Danish.
"Up to 95 percent of opium is cultivated in insecure areas. That insecurity is the biggest challenge we face in our work," said Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, deputy minister of counter-narcotics.
"The government has used all of its capacity to combat the drug trade. Despite the government's best efforts, large swaths of land are still being cultivated with poppies for opium production. This is a matter of serious concern for the government and its citizens," Danish added.
"Let's join hands and fight against the menace. Do not allow our youths to become the victims of drugs," minister of counter-narcotics Salamat Azimi said.
Afghanistan produced almost 75 percent of world's drugs in 2015. The issue has been of major concern to both to Afghanistan and its international partners. About 3.5 million Afghan are addicted to drugs.(Tolonews)