Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Iran has raised alarm over the underground production of heroin and methamphetamine in Afghanistan, calling it a “serious threat” to regional and global security. Hossein Zolfaqari, secretary-general of the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters, made the remarks during the 68th annual session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna.
Zolfaqari, representing Iran’s president and drug control chief, highlighted the challenges posed by Afghanistan’s illicit drug trade, particularly along the 2,000-kilometer border Iran shares with Afghanistan and Pakistan. “The production of drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine, has gone underground in Afghanistan, and this is a serious threat that must be addressed,” he said.
He called for European countries to support Afghan farmers in developing alternative crops and emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to combat drug trafficking and secure borders. “If there is sincere and decisive coordination, it may be possible to prevent drug smuggling to regional and international markets,” Zolfaqari added.
However, Afghan analysts have dismissed Iran’s claims as propaganda. Ahmad Khan Andar, a military analyst, questioned why Iran did not raise these concerns during recent meetings with Afghan officials. “All of this is propaganda by Iran and Pakistan to tarnish the image of the Afghan people and the Islamic Emirate,” he said.
The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Interior has previously stated that synthetic drugs are smuggled into Afghanistan from neighboring countries and urged these nations to take preventive measures.
As the international community grapples with the growing threat of synthetic drugs, Iran’s warnings underscore the urgent need for regional cooperation to address the root causes of drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan.
