The Taliban announced on Sunday a ban on the cultivation of narcotics in Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer.
Highlights
- The Taliban announced on Sunday a ban on the cultivation of narcotics in Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer.
- The order said the production, use or transportation of other narcotics was also banned.
- The Taliban banned poppy growing towards the end of their last rule in 2000 as they sought international legitimacy, but faced a popular backlash and later mostly changed their stance, according to experts.
- Taliban sources said they were anticipating tough resistance from some elements within the group against the ban on poppy.
- The U.N.
- estimated Afghanistan’s opium production – which the United Nations estimated was worth $1.4 billion at its height in 2017 – has increased in recent months.