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)