The UN has announced plans for a joint meeting focused on Afghan farmers and drug addiction treatment. Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, revealed that efforts are underway to organize the event. She made this announcement during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir on Wednesday, as reported by the Presidential Palace.
Otunbayeva stated, “We are striving to organize a joint meeting of numerous countries and institutions to provide Afghan farmers with alternative livelihoods and rehabilitation for drug addicts.” She emphasized that officials from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) would also be invited to participate.
She noted that much work is needed to eliminate the effects of decades of drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan and to support farmers with alternative livelihoods. Otunbayeva also mentioned that she would soon present UNAMA’s quarterly report on Afghanistan to the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Deputy Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir informed that the IEA has formed a high commission to lead a campaign against narcotics. He highlighted that the interim government has a clear stance on drugs and banned the cultivation, sale, and trafficking of all kinds of narcotics shortly after taking power in August 2021.
Kabir urged the UN to highlight the facts and recent developments in Afghanistan in its report to the UNSC. He also believed that assistance from partner institutions and countries would be crucial in combating the scourge of drugs in Afghanistan.
