Latest News
Afghanistan records historic 95% drop in opium production: UNODC
Afghan authorities maintain that the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics in the country have been reduced to near zero under current enforcement measures.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Afghanistan’s anti-narcotics campaign has achieved a “historic record” following a 95% reduction in opium poppy cultivation over the past three years, while warning that the growing production of synthetic drugs is emerging as a major global concern.
In an interview with Ariana News, the UNODC representative in Afghanistan said the narcotics situation in the country has changed significantly since the 2022 ban on the cultivation and production of illicit drugs, with sustained reductions recorded between 2023 and 2025.
UNODC representative Polleak Ok Serei described the development as unprecedented, saying the 95% reduction in poppy cultivation represents a major global milestone.
“In the past three years — 2023, 2024, and 2025 — the 95% reduction in opium poppy cultivation has been maintained. This is a remarkable achievement and a truly historic record. Previous efforts lasted only one year,” he said. “This is not only important for Afghanistan, but for the entire world, as Afghanistan previously produced around 80% of the global illicit opium supply.”
He added that following these developments, UNODC has adjusted its programs, shifting greater focus toward alternative livelihoods for farmers who previously depended on poppy cultivation.
According to him, while these efforts have shown progress, they remain insufficient due to Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian, economic, and environmental challenges.
UNODC also warned that the shift from traditional narcotics to synthetic drugs is creating new challenges for health systems, requiring updated medical responses and treatment approaches.
“We have had to adapt our activities accordingly,” the UN official said. “We are focusing heavily on alternative livelihoods for farmers, because those previously dependent on this production need new sources of income. We also had to reassess health interventions, particularly due to the shift from traditional drugs to synthetic drugs, which requires different medical approaches.”
The UN agency stressed that drug trafficking is a transnational issue requiring coordinated international cooperation among law enforcement and judicial authorities.
“Drug trafficking is a cross-border phenomenon. There are traffickers operating not only inside Afghanistan but also outside the country. Therefore, international cooperation between police and judicial authorities is essential,” he said.
UNODC called on neighboring countries and the international community to increase cooperation and investment in long-term solutions, including rural livelihoods, addiction treatment, and dismantling trafficking networks.
The statement comes as UNODC’s World Drug Report 2026 highlights rapid changes in global drug markets, driven by technology, instability, and the emergence of new synthetic substances.
According to the report, global drug production and trafficking patterns are shifting significantly, particularly in the opioid market. While Afghanistan’s opium production has sharply declined since 2022, production increases in countries such as Myanmar have not fully offset global supply changes, leading traffickers to increasingly turn toward synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and other highly potent substances.
The report warns that these new synthetic drugs can be significantly more powerful and deadly than traditional narcotics, posing serious risks to public health and security worldwide.
UNODC also noted that rising global demand for drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine is expanding trafficking routes into new regions, including Africa and Asia, further complicating international control efforts.
Meanwhile, Afghan authorities maintain that the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics in the country have been reduced to near zero under current enforcement measures.
Latest News
Khalilzad warns Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions likely to worsen after fresh airstrikes
Former U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has warned that the latest Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan and recent violence inside Pakistan are part of a wider crisis, saying he sees no indication that the situation is about to change.
In a post on X on Thursday, Khalilzad described the Pakistani airstrikes that have killed Afghan civilians and the increasing use of force against civilians in Pakistan as “interconnected tragedies,” implying both effected by Pakistan’s establishment.
“Unfortunately, I do not see any signs of change,” Khalilzad said, adding that current indicators suggested the use of force against Pakistanis would “likely get worse” in the coming days.
His comments came after Pakistan carried out a new wave of airstrikes inside Afghanistan overnight Thursday, saying it had targeted 10 locations used to launch and store drones.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes were conducted in response to drones launched from Afghan territory a day earlier and described them as “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate.”
Afghan officials said the strikes killed four civilians. The attacks reportedly hit locations including Kandahar, Khost and Paktia provinces. Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate authorities have denied launching the drones cited by Pakistan and have condemned the strikes.
The latest attacks follow Pakistani airstrikes earlier this week in Kunar and Paktika. Pakistan said those operations killed 28 militants, while the United Nations confirmed that three Afghan civilians — a man, a woman and a girl — were killed, with four others injured.
The renewed airstrikes come amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of allowing militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from its territory and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Afghan authorities reject the allegations and say militancy inside Pakistan is an internal issue.
Khalilzad has previously called for a change in Pakistan’s strategy toward both its internal security problems and Afghanistan.
Latest News
Afghanistan summons Pakistani chargé d’affaires over latest airstrikes
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires to Kabul and lodged a strong protest against the violation of Afghan airspace and Pakistani military airstrikes on several Afghan provinces.
The ministry handed the Pakistani diplomat a formal protest note following the attacks on Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces on Wednesday night, which reportedly caused civilian casualties.
The Islamic Emirate strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and contrary to Islamic, international, humanitarian and good-neighborly principles.
The ministry also rejected what it called baseless claims that Afghan territory was being used as a source of Pakistan’s recent security incidents.
It said using such claims to justify military action was an attempt to distort facts, mislead public opinion and conceal Pakistan’s internal failures.
The Islamic Emirate further accused Pakistan’s military leadership of avoiding commitments made to regional countries and warned that such actions could further escalate tensions in the region.
Latest News
Museum dedicated to preserving ‘Jihadi’ artefacts opens in Kandahar
The museum’s collection includes more than 100 items gathered from different locations.
A museum dedicated to preserving what Afghan authorities describe as “Jihadi artefacts” has officially opened in Kandahar, with officials saying more than 100 items have so far been collected for display.
Mufti Mohammad Tahir Ahmad, Director General for the Preservation of Jihadi Artefacts at the Ministry of Information and Culture, attended the inauguration ceremony alongside Qari Ahmadullah Saeed Khosti, Director of Registration for Jihadi Artefacts and Documents.
Mufti Inamullah Samangani, head of the Kandahar Information and Culture Department, and officials from several government departments also attended the ceremony.
According to the official responsible for preserving the artefacts in Kandahar, the museum’s collection includes more than 100 items gathered from different locations.
The collection includes weapons that officials say were captured from British, Soviet and US forces, as well as personal belongings and other items associated with people killed during Afghanistan’s conflicts over the past two decades.
Officials said efforts to collect additional artefacts would continue in order to expand the museum’s collection.
The museum is now open to visitors, according to the officials.
-
Sport4 days agoAfghanistan to face Japan and Nepal in Asian Games cricket group stage
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan says Kohat attackers had roots in Afghanistan
-
Latest News5 days agoOIC to hold Afghanistan Contact Group meeting on sidelines of UN General Assembly
-
Regional4 days agoIran and US trade threats after Houthi attacks escalate regional conflict
-
Regional5 days agoFlames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport; Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital
-
World3 days agoCNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump, challenging White House ban
-
Business5 days agoDogharoun handles 60% of Iran’s exports to Afghanistan
-
World5 days agoWorld leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

