The deputy Minister of Counter-Narcotics of the Interior Ministry, Abdul Haq Akhund Hamkar, in a meeting with the EU special envoy Tomas Niklasson asked for cooperation in the support and treatment of addicts, and alternative crops for farmers.

During the meeting, Hamkar stressed that the department works with other nations to try and stop the production, smuggling, and sale of narcotics not just in Afghanistan but in the world.

According to the statement of the Interior Ministry, Tomas Niklasson said that drugs are a common enemy of the world and he assured cooperation in this field.

“EU special envoy Tomas Niklasson praised the achievements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the fight against narcotics and admitted that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is really successful in the fight against narcotics, and we support it,” said Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior.

Previously, the UN said in a report that drug production and cultivation in Afghanistan had decreased by more than 90% from the previous year. However, more recently, the Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan said that there has been no decrease in the amount of drugs trafficked from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, analysts have different opinions on the cooperation of institutions and countries in the fight against drugs in Afghanistan.

“Many youth in Europe are addicted, and if the EU helps Afghan farmers, it is clear that both drug cultivation in Afghanistan will come to zero and they will prevent a humanitarian crisis,” said Ahmad Khan Andar, an international relations analyst.

“If cooperation is created between Europe and the Taliban, it can help farmers so they will be provided with alternative crops and some of their economic problems will be solved,” said Wahid Faqiri, another international relations analyst.

Previously, the deputy Minister of Counter-Narcotics of the Interior Ministry said in an interview with TOLOnews that no country has cooperated with the Islamic Emirate in the fight against narcotics so far.