PESHAWAR: Large-scale poppy cultivation has been discovered in DI Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent border areas of Balochistan, raising serious concerns about the link between drug trafficking and terrorism in country.
Credible sources report that poppy cultivation is taking place across hundreds of kanals of land, especially in Pastwari and Kochmina, with the opium extracted from these fields estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
Further reports suggest that at least forty militants, including notorious terrorists like Tariq Kalachi and Habib ur Rahman, have established hideouts in the region, with additional militants expected to arrive. Local sources also revealed that Afghan laborers are engaged in poppy cultivation, allegedly working funded by the terrorist group known as “Faizullah Ikhwani Group.”
An especially worrying development is the online sale of opium from these fields, with funds from these transactions reportedly being used to finance terrorist activities within Pakistan, posing a significant threat to the country’s national security.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had confirmed a sharp decline in Afghanistan’s opium production until 2023. However, recent trends indicate an increase in drug cultivation, prompting traffickers and militant groups to seek alternative sources, with Pakistan’s border regions emerging as a new hub for narcotics production.
Urgent government action is needed to address this escalating crisis. A comprehensive strategy to combat narcotics must be implemented to dismantle these illegal operations and deprive terrorist networks of vital funding. The Anti-Narcotics Force, in collaboration with civil administration and law enforcement agencies, must coordinate efforts to eliminate the affected areas and shut down illegal operations.
A decisive crackdown on this drug-terrorism program is essential not only for Pakistan’s internal security but also for regional stability. Failure to act swiftly may allow these criminal networks to strengthen their foothold and increasing internal security threats for Pakistan.
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