KABUL: The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs stated today (Saturday) at the first meeting of the High Commission for Combating Narcotics that the international community must fulfill its commitments to combat drug trafficking in Afghanistan.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, who heads the commission, also mentioned that the cultivation of poppies and drug production in Afghanistan have almost reached zero, posing no threat to other countries from this front.
The Deputy Prime Minister added: “In the third Doha meeting, important discussions were held regarding alternative crops, and we hope that the commitments made to assist Afghan farmers and the agricultural sector in Afghanistan will be fulfilled.”
According to Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the High Commission for Combating Narcotics plans to hold a meeting with the head of UNAMA and several ambassadors in Kabul soon.
Several senior officials of the Islamic Emirate also participated in this meeting. The acting Ministers of Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of international cooperation with the caretaker government in combating narcotics.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in the meeting: “This negatively impacts global relations with the system and the people of Afghanistan. Our travelers face humiliating inspections in other countries to ensure they are not carrying contraband.”
Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Interior, and Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting Minister of Defense, also stressed that combating narcotics requires both domestic and global cooperation, and the international community must fulfill its responsibilities in this area.
Sirajuddin Haqqani emphasized that the international community should also assist in the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets.
The acting Minister of Interior said, “If they cannot provide other forms of aid, they should at least cooperate with the Islamic Emirate in unfreezing Afghan assets unjustly held by the Americans.”
Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting Minister of Defense, stated: “The world remains largely silent on this issue and does not fulfill its responsibility. We call on them to take responsibility and support the Afghans, especially the farmers.”
Noor Jala Jalali, the acting Minister of Public Health, reported that there are currently around 80 drug addiction treatment centers in the country, with approximately 14,000 addicts receiving treatment.
The acting Minister of Public Health said, “The number of treatment beds and centers in the provinces must increase, and the upgrading of some clinics should be approved, but there is no budget to construct buildings for clinics and to promote them.”
Abdul Manan Omari, the acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, was also one of the speakers at this meeting. He mentioned that 2,500 addicts have graduated from various professions after their treatment.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of the Ministry of Interior also provided statistics indicating that since the return of the Islamic Emirate, 20,000 suspects have been arrested on drug trafficking charges, 1,450 drug factories have been destroyed, 37,000 hectares of land have been cleared of drug cultivation, and 122,000 addicts have been collected across the country.
According to the directorate’s statistics, in the past, 590,000 people were engaged in drug cultivation annually across the country, generating about $3 billion in revenue each year.
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