The case of a war-torn village in eastern Afghanistan shows how the poppy eradication effort can be undermined by dissent and small acts of sympathy.
ACHIN, Afghanistan — Delawar Torkhan, flanked by rifle-toting soldiers, rounded up the opium farmers and spoke loudly enough to ensure he was heard by everyone: the cowering men, the quietly fuming women — above all, his commanding officer perched in a nearby SUV.
As his superior drove away on a hot recent afternoon, Torkhan, a 52-year-old who joined the Taliban in 1995, promptly released the detained opium growers, many of whom he has known for decades and belonged to his Shinwari tribe of Pashtuns. “It is certainly plausible they will be able to induce fear-based elimination of poppy as they did in 1999,” she said. “But can it hold? Well, no, unless they absolutely ruin the country. Poppy underpins the political and economic life of Afghanistan.”In Kabul, Taliban officials say their commitment to eradication is absolute.
“If there were a way to overlook poppy cultivation, we wouldn’t put our people in further financial struggles,” he said. “But we’ve clearly told them it absolutely won’t be tolerated. We made a promise to the international community, and the villagers made a promise to us.”Among the craggy hills and steep ravines of Baghdara, Torkhan sounded the most conflicted among Taliban officials.
In 2017, life in the village of 1,000 people was upended by the arrival of fighters from Pakistan, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State and began to brutally enforce their will. Baghdara’s residents — who were quickly outnumbered in their own village by a ballooning Islamic State population of 4,000 men, women and children — soon fled.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
IOC warns Afghanistan about Paris Olympics status over denying sports to women and girlsThe Afghanistan team’s status for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been put in question by the IOC over growing frustration with the Taliban blocking access to sport for women and girls. The International Olympic Committee says it “continues to be extremely concerned” about the sports situation in Afghanistan despite its repeated calls for action. The IOC says it has the right to take further measures. And it notes details for an Afghanistan delegation going to the Paris Games haven't been decided. The IOC could suspend Afghanistan’s Olympic body for government interference and support athletes to compete as an independent team.
Consulte Mais informação »
IOC warns Afghanistan about Paris Olympics status over denying sports to women and girlsThe Afghanistan team’s status for the 2024 Paris Olympics was put in question Wednesday by the IOC over growing frustration with the Taliban blocking access to sport for women and girls.
Consulte Mais informação »
Child evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 dies in federal U.S. custodyA 6-year-old Afghan boy brought to the U.S. after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 died last week while in federal government custody, marking the third such death this year, a U.S. official told CBS News Thursday.
Consulte Mais informação »
Biden, Modi urge Pakistan to take action against militantsUS President Biden and Indian PM Modi call on Pakistan to ensure its territory is not used to launch militant attacks, White House says in a joint statement; Pakistan hasn't commented on the statement yet
Consulte Mais informação »
The Pentagon needs to stay out of politicsThe United States is dealing with a military recruiting crisis and questions about military readiness in the aftermath of the withdrawal debacle in Afghanistan as China and Russia become more aggressive. So why are military leaders actively sabotaging their operations to score political points?
Consulte Mais informação »
Van Cleef & Arpels Unveils High Jewelry Collection in RomeThe collection was inspired by the Grand Tour cultural experience and was presented with an experiential event at Villa Medici.
Consulte Mais informação »