Fitrat: Reports of poppy cultivation in concerning

BADAKHSHAN (TOLOnews): The chief of staff of the Islamic Emirate, Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, said that the Islamic Emirate is concerned by reports of rising poppy cultivation in Badakhshan.

He made the remarks at a gathering to introduce new officials in the province of Badakhshan.

“There are remarks that after the ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, there is no cultivation of [poppy] but in Badakhshan, and that people are freely cultivating it. This has caused concern for the Islamic Emirate’s leadership,” he said.

“Many religious clerics said that the cultivation of drugs is haram [forbidden], and the leadership of the Islamic Emirate is serious about this issue. The issue of poppy cultivation will be followed seriously,” said Sayfuddin Tayib, deputy head of the general directorate of the administrative affairs of the Islamic Emirate.

The deputy Interior Minister for counter narcotics, Abdul Haq Akhund, said that they are trying to pursue the issue in early seasons in a bid to not cause harm to the people.

“It is due time now we should inform the people so we do not inflict harm to the people and not take actions that he/she will not be able to cultivate other crops on his/her land as well,” he said.

The Islamic Emirate’s leadership in a statement announced a nationwide ban on poppy cultivation.