The Islamic Emirate, in response to remarks by an Iranian official regarding the increase in drug smuggling from Afghanistan, stated that poppy cultivation and drug trafficking in the country have nearly reached zero.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said that Kabul remains committed to its agreements with Tehran, and there should be no concerns in this regard.
“Afghanistan pledges that there should be no worries. We prevent all types of smuggling. Drug production in Afghanistan has been eliminated, and drug cultivation and trafficking are nearly zero. This itself indicates that if there was a smuggling problem in the past, it has ended or is naturally coming to an end,” the spokesperson further stated.
Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran’s deputy minister of interior, had earlier expressed concerns about what he described as an increase in drug smuggling and insecurity in the eastern parts of his country, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. He claimed that large drug reserves still exist in Afghanistan.
“Although the leader of Afghanistan has declared a ban on drug cultivation and opium poppy, we believe that there are still large drug reserves in Afghanistan, which are transferred to Iran through the eastern borders. This issue affects border security, our national security, and our social security,” stated Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian.
“The Iranian mafia operating in Iran had, and still has, vast drug reserves. However, if both countries can create coordination and equal cooperation between themselves, it will be effective and impactful in the fight against drugs,” said Fazl Rahman Oria, a political analyst.
The Iranian Deputy Minister of Security and Law Enforcement also expressed concerns about terrorism threats from the eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
However, the Islamic Emirate assures that it remains committed to its agreements with Iran.