The fourth counter-narcotics working group meeting under the Doha Process was held in Kabul, hosted by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). During the meeting, the Taliban representatives raised concerns about the spread of synthetic drugs.
Zia Ahmad Takal, head of information and public relations at the Taliban’s foreign ministry, said Wednesday that representatives from UN offices in Kabul, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, ambassadors, diplomats and a number of experts took part in the meeting, both in person and online.
Taliban officials told the meeting that the sources of synthetic drugs lie outside Afghanistan and warned that failure to curb their spread would harm the region and the wider world. They also claimed that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has “almost reached zero”.
At the session, Taliban representatives presented proposals on alternative livelihoods for farmers, treatment for people with drug addiction and other challenges facing counter-narcotics efforts in the country.
According to the Taliban, representatives of several international organisations and countries expressed support for counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. Participants stressed the need to create alternative livelihoods and to take effective steps to treat and reintegrate people with drug addiction into society.
Taliban officials said tackling drugs in Afghanistan is in the interest of the region and the world, adding that progress requires investment, cooperation, coordination and mutual trust. They also said international representatives welcomed what they described as a reduction in poppy cultivation.
Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s leader, issued a decree banning the cultivation and production of drugs a year after the group returned to power. However, reports indicate that drug cultivation and production continue in some areas in Afghanistan.
