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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban Funds War From Drug Trade, Say Helmand Councilors |
| 2016-07-11 |
| The least you can do is the act surprised, sheesh The Taliban insurgents are making massive amounts of money through illicit drug trafficking and a range of other illicit dealings, says Mohammad Karim Atal, the head of Helmand provincial council. The insurgent group was also involved in illegal mining, smuggling of precious stones, imposing illegal taxes on the people and by smuggling marble. In addition, the Taliban collects illegal revenue from the Kajaki hydro-electrical dam in the southern province of Helmand, members of the provincial council said on Sunday, as the group's longtime insurgency shows no sign ending in that fragile region. Earlier police officials in Helmand said the security forces have put strategies in place to cut off Taliban's illegal funding by curbing the group's activities in the volatile region. On Sunday Atal said that the collection of money through illegal sources has been funding the war machine of the Taliban in the province. He said that the amount collected by the Taliban through illicit sources is estimated at $50,000 daily. According to Helmand provincial council, the Taliban also collects taxes from the telecom companies, including the government institutions in areas under the control of the Taliban. "The Taliban collects taxes from multiple sources, however their main income source is drug smuggling and cultivation. The Taliban use the money to fund their war," said Bashir Ahmad Shakir member of Helmand provincial council. Police officials in Helmand have also expressed major concerns about the issue and vowed to take firm steps to cut off the funding sources of the Taliban. "We are also concerned about this practice. The Taliban, by collecting this money, fuel their war. We are trying to recapture those villages under the control of the Taliban," said Aqa Noor Kintoz, police chief of Helmand. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #3 But, but, but...Tony Blair said he'd wipe out the poppy fields. What happened, Tony? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2016-07-11 17:03 |
| #2 Everyone knows it, but no one does anything about it. Well, that's not quite true. Strict ROE from your President/CiC and staff forbid destruction of AFG poppy fields. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2016-07-11 13:35 |
| #1 The opium trade has financed Hekmatyar for now well over three decades. And the Afghan opium trade has enriched the Pakistan military for now well over three decades. Everyone knows it, but no one does anything about it. Regarding Helmand, the usual response has been, if we hit the poppy fields it will turn the people against us. I say go to it, Paraquat the hell out of them, and then let Pakistan pay for the miserable Pashto refugees that will result. |
| Posted by: Ulusoque Speaking for Boskone3139 2016-07-11 09:58 |