Inaugural meeting of Counter-Narcotics Working Group convened: UNAMA

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has convened an inaugural meeting of the Working Group on Counter-Narcotics, as a follow-up to the third Meeting of Special Envoys held in Doha, Qatar, a statement said on Thursday.

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.

“Counter-narcotics is an issue of critical importance for Afghanistan, impacting both rural communities and regional peace and stability,” Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, said after the online meeting.

According to the UODC estimation opium production in 2024 reached 433 tons, although this figure represents a 30 percent increase over 2023, but is still 93 percent lower than the production level of 2022, the year when the authorities began implementing a nationwide poppy cultivation ban.

However, the Ministry of Interior has rejected these statistics, saying that the ministry's assessment in the last year showed a significant decrease in this regard compared to previous years.

In March 2022, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) banned poppy cultivation nationwide and the, transfer, sale, trade, import, and export of narcotics in the country.

nh