Taliban Responds To CSTO, Calls For Increased Budget To Combat Drug Trafficking

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, has responded to recent remarks by the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), regarding terrorist threats and drug trafficking originating from Afghanistan.

Mujahid asserted that a substantial budget is required to effectively combat drug smuggling, adding that while the Taliban has taken measures within its capacity, a unilateral effort is insufficient. He also reiterated the Taliban’s stance that no terrorist groups are present in Afghanistan.

Earlier, Imangali Tasmagambetov, the CSTO Secretary-General, labelled Afghanistan as a source of potential terrorist threats and drug trafficking for Central Asia.

Tasmagambetov stated that the CSTO’s decision to reinforce the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border was driven by the risk of terrorism and narcotics smuggling spreading into the region.

Speaking on Friday, during the fourth meeting of parliamentary committee heads from CSTO member states, he underscored that the adoption of a targeted interstate programme to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border reflected a shared understanding among CSTO members regarding security threats in Central Asia.

He further emphasised that the primary sources of terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking originate from Afghanistan.

On Monday, in an interview with Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan, Mujahid dismissed the CSTO’s concerns over terrorism and drug smuggling.

However, he acknowledged the complexity of tackling the issue, stating “The CSTO must understand that preventing [drug trafficking] cannot be done unilaterally and requires a large budget.”

He also called for greater regional cooperation in combating drug smuggling networks.

Last year, Zabihullah Mujahid admitted that drug trafficking from Afghanistan was still ongoing, citing the existence of multiple smuggling routes and the continuation of the transfer of stored narcotics reserves.

Despite Taliban claims of counter-narcotics efforts, concerns persist among neighbouring countries and international organisations regarding Afghanistan’s role in global drug production and trafficking.