- Poppy cultivated in Paswari and Kochmina on 25 acres.
- 40 activists, including sought -after terrorists, involved in the culture of poppy.
- Online sales funds on terrorism opium, poses the national security threat.
An important poppy agricultural operation was discovered in Dera Ismail Khan by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in border regions near Balutchistan, The news reported on Monday.
This discovery has aroused great concerns about the link between drug trafficking and terrorism in the country.
Credible sources have revealed that the poppy is cultivated, especially in the Pastwari and Kochmina regions. About 25 pavot cultivation acres – spread over 4 to 5 patches – have given around 500 kilograms of opium, worth RS1.6 billion.
However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claims that no report of this type has surfaced, and even the anti-narcotic force (ANF) has pointed out any poppy culture on the KP territory.
“We have not received any information from any agency on this issue, but the ministry was invited to investigate the issue. It can be in the Balutchistan region,” said a KP government official.
Credible sources indicate that at least 40 activists, including terrorists sought after Tariq Kalachi and Habib U Rahman, have established hiding places in the region, with more terrorists arriving. Local sources have also revealed that Afghan workers are engaged in the culture of the poppy, working allegedly under the financial patronage of the terrorist faction known as “Faizullah Ikhwani Group”.
Sources say that a particularly alarming development is the online sale of opoine harvested in these areas. The reports suggest that these funds finance terrorist activities in Pakistan, constituting a significant threat to national security.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had confirmed a sharp drop in opium production in Afghanistan until 2023. However, recent trends indicate a resurgence of drug culture, encouraging traffickers and militant groups to seek alternative sources, border regions of Pakistan emerging as a new center for the production of Narcotics.
Security sources have said to this correspondent that immediate government intervention is imperative to limit this growing crisis.
A complete counter-nostolore strategy is necessary to dismantle these illegal operations and reduce financial resources for terrorist networks. The ANF, in collaboration with the civil administration and the law enforcement agencies, must carry out coordinated operations to eliminate affected areas and dismantle illicit networks.
“A decisive repression of this link on drug terrorism is essential not only for the internal security of Pakistan, but also for regional stability. Not acting quickly can allow these criminal networks to strengthen their foot and increase internal security threats for Pakistan,” said the official.
