The Diplomat: The humongous trade is run by regional and multinational cartels with complex and elaborate illicit networks across the region. Politicians, security force personnel, and even the Taliban have been part of this symbiotic nexus, profiteering enormous amounts of money. Amid the anti-poppy measures of the Taliban, a record amount of Afghan drugs moved
8am: The citizens of the country have been severely affected by increased poverty under the control of the Taliban. About two years ago, Herati traditional clothes enjoyed a thriving market, and citizens, particularly young people, would purchase them for special occasions such as Eid. However, traditional cloth sellers, this year are witnessing a decline in
Ayaz Gul VOA News June 25, 2023 ISLAMABAD — The supreme leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban declared Sunday that their campaign against illicit drug production in the country had eradicated the cultivation of opium poppies, which are used to make morphine or heroin. Hibatullah Akhundzada’s declaration follows recent media reports and satellite images backed by the United
Khaama: The [Taliban] Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a five-year contract to extract marble from a mine in the Khwaja Zaid Valley of the Doshi district of Baghlan province with two companies. According to company representatives, the marble the two companies export will be marketed locally and internationally. Click here to read more
NPR: NPR interviewed six Afghan aid workers from five Afghan provinces. They shared experiences of the Taliban attempting to divert foreign aid to their members through bullying, threats of legal action and even violence. The interviewees, who requested their locations be kept discreet, span four provinces in both the north and the south. Click here
WP: One year on, it’s not clear whether the Taliban will soon make a significant dent on a crop that the United Nations estimated accounts for one-tenth of the entire Afghan economy. The country’s poppy farmers supply the raw ingredients that, after being boiled into bricks, refined and exported to Europe via Iran and Pakistan,
Tolo News: Residents of Nawzad district in Helmand province said that the continuation of life in some villages of the district has become difficult due to recent wars and drought, which has forced them to leave their areas. Residents of this district added that they face many challenges and that the current government should address
Akmal Dawi VOA News June 20, 2023 WASHINGTON — Amid unresolved wrangling with Taliban authorities over women’s right to work and education and a decline in donor funding, the United Nations has cut its humanitarian aid request for Afghanistan by more than $1 billion, forcing aid agencies to stop giving critical assistance to millions of people.
Ayaz Gul VOA News June 19, 2023 ISLAMABAD — A global aid agency warned Monday that a large-scale plague of locusts is ravaging northern Afghanistan and could destroy 1.2 million metric tons of wheat, almost one-quarter of the country’s annual harvest. “The escalating situation threatens to plunge millions of people into worsening levels of hunger,” the
Khaama: The US Department of State on Thursday published its annual report on the situation of human trafficking around the world, in which Afghanistan is among the worst countries in human trafficking. Meanwhile, due to the late regime change, prolonged political instability, economic and security issues, Afghan nationals are considered to be the most vulnerable