A significant poppy cultivation operation spanning approximately 25 acres has been uncovered in the DI Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and bordering areas of Balochistan, according to a new report, raising serious concerns about the link between drug trafficking and terrorism.

According to a report published in The News, The cultivation, primarily located in Pastwari and Kochmina, has yielded an estimated 500 kilograms of opium, valued at roughly Rs1.6 billion.

While the KP government claims no official reports of such activity and the Anti-Narcotics Force denies knowledge, the report indicates the involvement of at least forty militants, including known terrorists Tariq Kalachi and Habib Ur Rahman, who have established hideouts in the region. 

Afghan labourers are allegedly working the fields under the patronage of the “Faizullah Ikhwani Group”. Opium from these fields is reportedly being sold online, directly funding terrorist activities, the report adds.

This resurgence in poppy cultivation comes despite a previous decline in Afghan opium production. The UNODC’s confirmation of this decline until 2023 highlights the shift towards Pakistan’s border regions as a new hub for narcotics production.

Security sources emphasize the urgent need for government intervention to dismantle these illegal operations and cut off funding for terrorist networks. The sources have also called for a coordinated effort involving the Anti-Narcotics Force, civil administration, and law enforcement is crucial to address this escalating crisis and prevent the further strengthening of these criminal networks.