The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) held the first meeting of its working group on combating narcotics Yesterday (Thursday).
In a statement, UNAMA said that this initiative is part of efforts to engage “more effectively” with the de facto government on critical issues affecting the Afghan people.
The statement added that the formation of this working group stems from recommendations presented in the 2023 independent assessment to the United Nations Security Council.
“The establishment of the thematic working group follows the recommendations of the independent assessment submitted to the Security Council (S/2023/856) to pursue a more coherent, coordinated, and structured engagement process with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, for the benefit of the Afghan people,” according to a statement from UNAMA.
UNAMA did not provide further details about the participants of the meeting.
“Counter-narcotics is an issue of critical importance for Afghanistan, impacting both rural communities and regional peace and stability,” said Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA,
“The commission established by the United Nations to combat narcotics should coordinate and align with the Islamic system in Afghanistan to eradicate narcotics from Afghanistan and elsewhere,” said Hashim Alkozai, a political analyst.
“The issue of narcotics is an international problem and must be addressed internationally. The international community should have supported our farmers over the past three years by providing alternatives to their cultivation,” said Salim Paighir, a political analyst.
Previously, according to recent United Nations findings, opium production in Afghanistan increased by 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year, a claim dismissed by the Islamic Emirate as baseless.