• Poppy grown in Pastwari and Kochina across 25 hectares.
• 40 militants, including desired terrorists, involved in poppy breeding.
• Online Opium Sales Fund Terrorism represents National Security Thrust.

A significant poppy Agricultural operation has been uncovered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Dera Ismail Khan and the nearby border areas of Balochistan, The news reported Monday.

This discovery has given rise to major concerns about the connection between drug trafficking and terrorism in the country.

Credible sources revealed that Poppy is cultivated especially in the areas of Pastwari and Kochina. The approximately 25 hectares of poppy – cultivation – spread over 4 to 5 patches – have given an estimated 500 kg of opium, which is valued at around RS1.6 billion.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claims that no such reports have appeared, and even Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) has not reported on any poppy cultivation on KP’s territory.

“We have not received any information from any agency about this question, but the department has been asked to investigate the matter. It may be in the Balochistan area,” said an official from the KP government.

Credible sources show that at least 40 militants, including desired terrorists named Tariq Kalachi and Habib Ur Rahman, have established a hiding place in the region, with several terrorists arriving. Local sources also revealed that Afghan workers are involved in poppy cultivation and allegedly work under the economic patronage of the terrorist fraction known as the “Faizullah Ikhwani group”.

Sources claim that a particularly alarming development is the online sale of opium harvested from these fields. Reports suggest that these funds are funding terrorist activities in Pakistan, which pose a significant threat to national security.

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) had confirmed a sharp decrease in Afghanistan’s opium production until 2023. However, the recent trends indicate a resurgence in drug cultivation, causing human traffickers and militant groups to seek alternative sources, with Pakistan’s border regions that appear as a new hub for narcotics -production.

Security sources told this correspondent that immediate government intervention is imperative to limit this escalating crisis.

A comprehensive counter-narcotics strategy is required to dismantle these illegal operations and cut off financial resources for terrorist decorations. Anf, in collaboration with Civil Administration and Law Enforcement Authorities, must perform coordinated operations to clear affected areas and run illegal networks.

“A crucial crash on this drug -rhyricism Nexus is not only important for Pakistan’s internal security, but also for regional stability. Lack of action can quickly allow these criminal networks to strengthen their foothold and increase the internal security threats of Pakistan,” the official said.