This essay seeks to analyze the relationship between the production of opium in Afghanistan and the sustainability of the Taliban. Rather than continue the failing anti-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan, the United States should undermine the power of the Taliban by pushing for development of the Afghan Economy through the utilization of the country's comparative advantage in opium production. The failure of extermination, the lack of profitable substitution crops, the important role that opium plays within the Afghan economy, and the Turkish model suggest that it is within the US’ best interest to push for the production of licit opium production within the war-torn nation. The Taliban is an extremist Sunni Muslim militant group that
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A majority of these funds, estimated to be upwards of 300,000 million dollars, were raised through their part in the illegal narcotics trade. The Taliban’s involvement in the opium trade is not primarily in production, but rather in protection. 65% of those involved in the opium trade stated the Taliban’s main activities related to drugs were proving security for opium crops as they grew, and providing protection for the drug shipments when they leave the area. The Taliban levies protection taxes on Afghans who live within their domain. The Taliban charges farmers 10% harvest tax or “usher” and a 2.5% “zakat”which is a tax on wealth . The Taliban is estimated to take 12% of the estimated 4 billion dollar industry, with the rest going to the farmers, smugglers, traffickers, and corrupt officials. By legalizing medical opium production, Afghans will no longer be forced to rely on the Taliban for protection. They could grow their crops without fearing eradication or interdiction, thus undermining the need to pay taxes to the …show more content…
The Taliban is believed to have influence in 50% of the country especially in the southern area where poppy cultivation is at its highest. The Taliban persuades people to cultivate opium by taxing the farmers based upon what the price would be per acre if they grew opium. For example, if a farmer grew 44 acres of wheat, they would be taxed 10% of the estimated profits of opium grown on that plot according to black market prices. Thus, making the production of less profitable alternatives extremely difficult for the farmers who live under Taliban
A majority of these funds, estimated to be upwards of 300,000 million dollars, were raised through their part in the illegal narcotics trade. The Taliban’s involvement in the opium trade is not primarily in production, but rather in protection. 65% of those involved in the opium trade stated the Taliban’s main activities related to drugs were proving security for opium crops as they grew, and providing protection for the drug shipments when they leave the area. The Taliban levies protection taxes on Afghans who live within their domain. The Taliban charges farmers 10% harvest tax or “usher” and a 2.5% “zakat”which is a tax on wealth . The Taliban is estimated to take 12% of the estimated 4 billion dollar industry, with the rest going to the farmers, smugglers, traffickers, and corrupt officials. By legalizing medical opium production, Afghans will no longer be forced to rely on the Taliban for protection. They could grow their crops without fearing eradication or interdiction, thus undermining the need to pay taxes to the …show more content…
The Taliban is believed to have influence in 50% of the country especially in the southern area where poppy cultivation is at its highest. The Taliban persuades people to cultivate opium by taxing the farmers based upon what the price would be per acre if they grew opium. For example, if a farmer grew 44 acres of wheat, they would be taxed 10% of the estimated profits of opium grown on that plot according to black market prices. Thus, making the production of less profitable alternatives extremely difficult for the farmers who live under Taliban