Special Reporter, 13 December: India’s neighbor Myanmar has become the center of Afing farming worldwide. This time Afghanistan has fallen past Myanmar. Military junta has defeated Afghanistan’s Taliban. 1,080 tonnes of Afing is produced annually in Myanmar. On the other hand, the Taliban government’s annual income from drugs and various thieves and illegal businesses are about 3,200 Crore rupees. According to the annual report of the UN Drugs and Crime Department, Myanmar is now the top producing country of Afing.
After winning the civil war for the second time in August 2021, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid promised that he would be active in closing off Afghanistan. The United Nations report says they have kept that promise.
Afing (poppy) cultivation in Afghanistan has decreased by more than 90 percent in the last one and a half years, according to UNODC reports. This time there is a possibility of 330 tonnes of offing produced in the country. On the other hand, Myanmar could produce 1080 tonnes of offing, increasing about 36 percent compared to previous year.
But not only the military personnel, but also the rebel-controlled areas have been cultivated. Coincidentally, the main component of many drugs including heroin is offing. Even a few years ago, Afing farming and drug production were one of the ‘pillars’ of the Taliban economy.
The international report published five years ago says that the Taliban’s annual income from drug trade and smuggling trade is about 3200 crore rupees.
Taliban commanders forced farmers from occupied area to cultivate Afing in the style of Nilkar Sahab. Moreover, several international gangs had drug manufacturing factories in Taliban controlled areas. Despite the assurance, the international society doubted whether the Taliban has the will to attack this huge source of income?
But the report says Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, Abdul Gani Baradrera worked as promised.