Afghanistan, The Rise of a Narco­Terrorist State: Daily Current Affairs

GS- 2: International Relations

Key Phrases: State - Sponsored terrorism, Golden Crescent, secessionism, insurgency

Why in News:

  • According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium production in Afghanistan has crossed 6,000 tons for the fifth consecutive year.
  • The reported rise in global opium prices has resulted in the exponential production of opiates increasing by 8%.
  • The Taliban, cash-strapped and still looking to establish a semblance of order in the country they captured in August 2021, could indeed be looking to generate revenue from the illegal cash crop, as cases of smuggling and seizures of large consignments of drugs in India have started increasing, indicating a turn towards this trend.

World Drug Report 2021:

  • Around 275 million people used drugs globally in the last year. Over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders.
  • Rise in the use of cannabis during the pandemic has been reported by most countries.
  • Non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs has also been observed in the same period.
  • The latest global estimates say, about 5.5 per cent of the population between 15 and 64 years have used drugs at least once in the past year.
  • Over 11 million people globally are estimated to inject drugs – half of them have Hepatitis C.
  • Opioids continue to account for the largest burden of disease-linked to drug abuse.

About Narco-Terrorism:

  • Narco-terrorism was first used in 1983 by the former President of Peru, Belaunde Terry to describe campaigns by drug traffickers using terrorist methods such as the use of car bombs, assassinations and kidnapping against the anti-narcotics police in Coloumbia and Peru.
  • Though initially used in the context of drug trafficking related terrorism in South America, the term has come to be associated with terrorist groups and activities around the world and more so in the Central and South-East Asia.
  • As the term itself suggests, narco-terrorism combines two criminal activities, drug trafficking and terrorist violence. Narcoterrorism is motivated mainly by economic reasons as it helps the terrorist organizations raise huge sums of money with minimum cost for their activities.
  • Thus the political, ideological, religious and the ethno-nationalist motives generally associated with terrorism are secondary to the economic gains associated with it.

Golden Triangle (SE Asia)

  • The Golden Triangle is the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. The name “Golden Triangle” was coined by the CIA.
  • Along with Afghanistan in the Golden Crescent, it has been one of the largest opium-producing areas of the world, since the 1950s. Most of the world’s heroin came from the Golden Triangle until the early 21st century when Afghanistan became the world’s largest producer.

Golden Crescent

  • The Golden Crescent is the name given to one of Asia’s two principal areas of illicit opium production (with the other being the Golden Triangle), located at the crossroads of Central, South, and Western Asia. This space overlaps three nations, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, whose mountainous peripheries define the crescent.

India and Narco-Terrorism

  • State-sponsored Terrorism: Narco-terrorism is a key component of Pakistan’s state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, which is used to fund and conduct asymmetric warfare against its neighbors.
  • Porous Borders: India has a 15,106-kilometre porous border and a 7,516-kilometre coastline. China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh are all on the same side of those lengthy boundaries.
  • Inefficient Policymaking: Terrorist and militant actions are a problem in India, which are supported by the neighboring countries. It’s no surprise that few Indians see the importation of ganja, opium, hashish, and other drugs as a concern because secessionism, terrorism, and insurgency have occupied the thoughts of policymakers and the general people.
  • India’s Position between Triangle and Crescent: India is inconveniently placed between the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, two of the world’s most active hotbeds of illegal drug trafficking. The Golden Triangle is defined as the area where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar intersect. Until the early twenty-first century, when Afghanistan overtook the Golden Triangle as the world’s leading producer, the Golden Triangle produced the majority of the world’s heroin.
  • Terror Funding: The lion’s share of the source of terror funding in Kashmir emanates from across the border in Pakistan through its notorious agency ISI. The ISI generates its finances through narco-financing which comes from the control of narcotics trade in the AfPak region.
  • Pakistan as a Major Culprit: Pakistan has the highest per capita heroin addiction rate in the world. The ISI pumps drugs in Jammu and Kashmir with twofold intentions. Drug-paddling funds terrorist activities; on the other, there is a strong correlation between receptive attitudes towards Jihadism and drug use.
  • Northeast Region: Drugs, sourced from Myanmar and Bangladesh, has a direct bearing on the funding of terror and extremist activities in the northeast. A series of intermittent seizures in India of ‘yaba’ tablets that were meant for Bangladesh, indicates the existence of multiple exit points along the border in Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya. The proceeds of this drug-trade find its way to insurgent-outfits.

Laws and Regulations against Narcotic Trafficking

  • Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act 1985: Indian Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: Provides to carry out controlled delivery mechanisms measures as it deems necessary or expenditure for the purpose of preventing and combating abuse of narcotic substances. Provides minimum punishment of 10 years.
  • Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): Nodal agency for enforcement of laws concerning narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  • India signed bilateral agreements with USA, UK, Myanmar, Afghanistan, UAE, Mauritius, Zambia, and the Russia for ‘drug control’.
  • India is a signatory of UN and SAARC convention on narcotic drugs and psychotropic Substances.

Way forward:

  • Strengthening of Criminal Laws: India has to restructure its criminal justice system, with forensic science playing a key role in combating narco-terrorism.
    • With the advent of coronavirus, the intensity of the illicit drug trade in India is expected to rise. The government needs to implement the existing laws strictly to prevent drug trafficking and its resultant drug abuse.
  • Friendly International Relations: India should take the initiative and reach out to Afghans from all walks of life, including women, civil society organizations, political leaders, and business organizations, who are seeking aid in establishing a credible, representative, and inclusive government in their nation.
  • Rehabilitation: India should work for robust rehabilitation efforts by having good infrastructure.
  • Strengthening Narcotics Control Bureau: NCB should be given more powers and authority to keep strict vigil in Narcotics business.
  • Awareness: Drug sensitization programs and awareness trainings should be granted for curbing the illicit drug trade.

Sources:

• The Hindu

• Project syndicate

• wdr undoc

• govinfo gov

• idsa in

Q. Golden Crecent and Golden triangle recently seen in news are related to:

A. Drug Trafficking

B. Agriculture

C. Iron Mining

D. Livestock Ranching

Ans: A

Mains Question:

Q. Discuss the problem of Narco-terrorism in relation to the rise in drug trade by change in power in Afghanistan, also elaborate the challenges which India is facing and way forward?