Taliban-produced drugs entering Sri Lanka through Pakistan: Afghan Envoy

Colombo: Afghanistan Ambassador to Sri Lanka, M. Ashraf Haidari accused that the narcotics coming from the Taliban are being smuggled into Sri Lanka, via Pakistan. Sri Lanka has declared a war against narcotic substances, for the last two years. Last year, a series of blasts were carried out in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Preliminary investigations had revealed that the funding had come from Narcotic smugglers. Against this background, the importance of the accusations levelled by Afghanistan Ambassador Ashraf Haidari increases further.

During an interview with a Sri Lankan news agency, Afghanistan Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari targeted Pakistan. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are jointly fighting a war against Narcotics. While speaking about it, Haidari warned that the Talibani narcotics are coming via Pakistan to Sri Lanka. He also levelled a serious accusation that it is Pakistan, who is responsible for terrorism in Afghanistan.

Haidari said that terrorism takes at least 10,000 lives in Afghanistan. Saying that Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries provide a safe haven for the terrorists, Haidari indirectly hit out at Pakistan. This badly hurt Pakistan. The Pakistan high commission in Sri Lanka immediately reacted to this. Pakistan made a fuss that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and entire world is aware that Pakistan is fighting terrorism. Pakistan also levelled an accusation that it is Afghanistan, who is harbouring terrorists and they are destabilising Baluchistan and the mountainous terrains in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, two weeks ago, it was exposed that Pakistan was involved in the Maldives drug connection. Four Pakistani citizens were arrested in this connection. It is being repeatedly exposed that large quantities of narcotics are smuggled into India from Pakistan. Every year, huge quantities of narcotic substances are smuggled into India from Pakistan. The security forces seize huge narcotic hauls regularly on the border, in Punjab and Rajasthan. The smuggling through the marine route also has increased, over the last few years.