With 90 percent Afghanistan in Taliban’s hold Pakistan eying the Opium Money

GG News Bureau
New Delhi , 15 th August. The Taliban militia gaining grounds in Afghanistan could not have been possible without resources in terms of military equipment and funds to fight the Afghan forces backed by united states. For Taliban had realized that to fight Afghan forces and to regain power in Kabul it would require money and which for them has poured in through Opium trade.
With such a huge amount of funds available Pakistan has been quick to pounce on the opportunity and in lieu of the Opium Money it has sent its Punjabi speaking mercenaries or Mujahidin to fight the war against Ashraf Gani government and it is no surprise that they are winning. Pakistan itself is in financial crisis and for it supporting Taliban with one eye on opium money was inevitable.
Pakistan fearing the backlash from religious mercenaries ,who have trained in its Madrasas and were sitting idle had become imminent and to avoid the attacks inside Pakistan it had no option but to send these groups to fight for Taliban and help them in gaining grounds in the country.
Taliban that needed more trained hands to fight the war for them readily agreed in exchange of sharing the Opium money deal and that is the reason the Afghan citizen find so many Punjabi speaking fighters in Afghanistan supporting Taliban.
For Pakistan this situation has come as boon in disguise as its soldiers get paid for the fight handsomely and on the other it succeeds in building the domestic narrative in the name of greater Islamic cause. Pakistan that as having difficulty in dealing with Ashraf Gani will find it easy to deal with Taliban and implement the Chinese government which is eying the to exploit the rich minerals present in Afghanistan.
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, imposing a strict Sharia law. After its fall Taliban concluded that it would be a long-standing war if it had to come to power again and for that the money would play an important role, so it started creating a sophisticated financial network and taxation system to pay for insurgent operations.
Taliban’s annual income from 2011 onwards was estimated to be $400m which after taking to Poppy cultivation and Opium trade increased significantly.
Taliban realizing the profits in Poppy and Opium trade began to work towards developing poppy economy in Afghanistan. The Afghan farmer in the war-torn country was forced to take to Poppy cultivation for which he was ready as it meant generation for more revenue at Local level.With an estimated annual export value of $1.5-$3bn, the opium poppy is big business, supplying most of the illicit heroin worldwide. Although there is some cultivation in government regions, most of the poppy growing takes place in areas controlled by the Taliban and is believed to be an important source of income. The Taliban earns money from taxes imposed at several stages of the process. A 10% cultivation tax is collected from opium farmers. Taxes are also collected from the laboratories converting opium into heroin, as well as the traders who smuggle the illicit drugs.Estimates of the Taliban’s annual share of the illicit drug economy range from $100m-$400m making Afghanistan the world’s largest producer of opium. The opium poppy Has become a big business in Afghanistansupplying the overwhelming majority of illicit heroin worldwide. The US military says 60% of Taliban funding comes from narcotics.
US acted against the Opium business beign run by Taliban but it ended to be a mere cosmetic service. The Taliban usually denies its involvement in the narcotics industry and takes pride in the total ban on poppy cultivation during its regime in 2000.
Afghanistan is rich in minerals and precious stones, much of it under-exploited as a result of the years of conflict. The mining industry in Afghanistan is worth at least an estimated $1bn. Most of the extraction is small scale and much of it is done illegally and the united States officials it is alleged that entered into illicit deal with Taliban to extract these minerals and precious on the promise of they will not be attacked by the US. Meanwhile for China its stooge Pakistan is there to cut deals with Taliban who would be needed money to strengthen their base and revive their image among the Afghan people. China has already announced that it will recognize Taliban government and provide it legitimacy.