Regional Concerns Heighten as Iran and Tajikistan Address Escalating Drug Trafficking from Afghanistan
Last Updated on March 24, 2024 3:05 pm
Md Khayrul Bashar, Senior Reporter:
In a recent meeting convened by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the heads of counter-narcotics efforts from Iran and Tajikistan voiced growing apprehension regarding the surge in drug smuggling and cultivation originating from Afghanistan.
Zafar Samad, the head of Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency, highlighted the mounting threat posed by narcotics flowing from the vast reserves of northern Afghanistan into Central Asian countries and even reaching as far as the European Union. Samad underscored the alarming rise in methamphetamine production within Afghanistan, emphasizing the consequential impact on neighboring Central Asian nations.
Eskandar Momeni, Secretary General of Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters, echoed similar concerns, citing the staggering seizure of over 4,450 tons of narcotics originating from Afghanistan within Iran over the past five years. Despite concerted efforts by Iranian authorities, Momeni lamented the persistent challenge posed by unabated drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
However, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, contested these assertions, asserting ongoing efforts within Afghanistan to combat illicit drug production and trafficking. Mujahid urged for comprehensive cooperation from international partners, emphasizing the need for fulfillment of promised assistance and concerted action to curb drug trafficking.
Renowned international relations expert Waheed Faqiri emphasized the necessity of bilateral collaboration in addressing the multifaceted challenge of drug trafficking, stressing the importance of joint efforts focused on prevention and enforcement.
This renewed focus on combating drug trafficking comes amidst previous declarations by the Islamic Emirate, wherein the prohibition of narcotics cultivation, trafficking, and sale was announced, signaling a purported commitment to tackling the root causes of the issue within Afghanistan itself.