Abstract: Narcotics are one of the unsolved issues of the current world. Annually it takes hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. In addition, the usage of narcotics results in drug addiction and death. Despite the creation of several international conventions on prevention and trafficking of drugs, they are still available in many parts of the world.
Afghanistan is one of those countries where drug addiction has been on rise for several decades. The opium poppy plant first introduced by Arab traders is currently creating major problems for this country. The cultivation of this plant increased during the invasion of Soviet Union and later became an integral part of Afghanistan’s illicit economy.
Like other countries, narcotics have impacted social, economic, and security fields of Afghanistan, leaving around a million addicted, helping in increasing crime rate, and family violence, and affecting the already poor economy. Furthermore, links between the insurgents and drug traffickers have worried officials in Kabul.
Therefore, as a student of Master of Public Policy, I decided to do some research on these three types of impacts on opium on Afghanistan. In social impacts on narcotics in Afghanistan, I found a growing numbers of addicts left unemployed and without proper treatment. Moreover, the findings also pointed out to their role in increasing crimes in the country. Furthermore, I also found that there are limited numbers of drug treatment facilities in the country with majority of them run by NGOs.
In the economic impact of narcotics in Afghanistan, I found the increasing role of Hawala (money transfer) in illicit economy. Through this system, millions of dollars of illicit money is transferred annually. Moreover, the system gives the government little access to the source, sender, and recipient of the money, therefore paving the way for an easy and untraceable transfer of millions of dollars to drug lord and insurgents.
In the security impact of narcotics in Afghanistan, I found that how the Taliban are benefiting from drug business, how much do they earn, and what are the methods of collection. This section also discusses the links between insurgents and drugs in South and East of the country. In addition, I have also discussed the Afghan and U.S. Governments counter narcotic strategies as well as their outcomes and further findings on shortcomings.
I hope that this thesis project will provide some information to readers on social, economic, and security impacts on narcotics in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, a brief history of Afghanistan is also provided in order to give readers necessary information on Afghanistan. This thesis also explains the definition, types, and history of narcotics. Furthermore, the history of narcotics specifically in Afghanistan is discussed in detail and in two sections; before U.S. invasion in 2001, and after U.S. invasion in 2001. The thesis also presents a clear picture of U.S. counter narcotic strategy and its pillars as well as its shortcomings.
Title: Social and Economic Impact of Narcotics in Afghanistan
Author: Abdul Saleem Achak
Affiliation: Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany
International Journal of Thesis Projects and Dissertations (IJTPD)
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