BRUSSELS, Belgium: The interim Afghan Taliban administration’s anti-drug policies present a potential path to stabilize Afghanistan’s economy, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG). While acknowledging the Taliban’s “successful poppy elimination efforts,” Afghan analyst Ibraheem Bahiss noted the ban has severely impacted rural livelihoods amid an economic crisis and climate challenges.
A UN report revealed that opium cultivation in Afghanistan dropped dramatically from 233,000 hectares in 2022 to 10,800 hectares in 2023, reducing supply by 95% following the Taliban’s April 2022 ban. The ICG emphasized that without alternative livelihoods, the risk of displacement and emigration remains high.
To make the Taliban’s narcotics policy sustainable and equitable, the ICG recommended multilateral collaboration between Afghanistan and the international community. It also suggested more lenient measures for impoverished farmers to help them transition from poppy cultivation.
The ICG stated that Afghanistan’s anti-drug campaign aligns with many foreign interests, presenting opportunities for international donors to support the nation’s economic stabilization. The group called for job creation in non-agricultural sectors, stressing that licit crops alone would not provide sufficient employment. The report also highlighted the need to address Afghanistan’s frozen $7 billion Central Bank reserves, held by the U.S., for more sustainable economic development.
