Afghanistan denies drug trafficking surge

The officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have asserted that poppy cultivation and drug trafficking in the country have almost been eradicated.

These remarks were made in response to comments from an Iranian official about rising drug smuggling from Afghanistan, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, emphasized that Kabul is fully committed to its agreements with Tehran and that there should be no cause for concern on this matter.  

"Afghanistan pledges that there should be no worries. We prevent all types of smuggling. Drug production in Afghanistan has been eliminated, and drug cultivation and trafficking are nearly zero. This itself indicates that if there was a smuggling problem in the past, it has ended or is naturally coming to an end,” the spokesperson further stated.  

Earlier, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran's deputy interior minister, voiced concerns about what he called a rise in drug smuggling and insecurity in the eastern regions of Iran, which border Pakistan and Afghanistan. He asserted that significant drug stockpiles still remain in Afghanistan.  

"Although the leader of Afghanistan has declared a ban on drug cultivation and opium poppy, we believe that there are still large drug reserves in Afghanistan, which are transferred to Iran through the eastern borders. This issue affects border security, our national security, and our social security,” stated Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian.  

"The Iranian mafia operating in Iran had, and still has, vast drug reserves. However, if both countries can create coordination and equal cooperation between themselves, it will be effective and impactful in the fight against drugs,” said Fazl Rahman Oria, a political analyst.   

The Iranian Deputy Minister of Security and Law Enforcement also raised concerns about terrorist threats coming from the eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, the Islamic Emirate has assured that it remains fully committed to its agreements with Iran.

By Naila Huseynova