U.S., Afghan forces strike opium factories to diminish Taliban budget

U.S. and Afghan forces have launched joint assaults on Taliban opium factories to try to lessen the insurgent organization’s monetary lifeline, officials from both international locations stated on Monday.
U.S. navy general John Nicholson showed films at a press conference of focused aerial strikes in opposition to what he described as Taliban drug factories.

The southern province of Helmand suffers heavy fighting and is the single-biggest producer of opium.

Opium manufacturing in Afghanistan reached document highs this year, up 87 percent on ultimate yr, the United international locations said last week.

The U.N. workplace on drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated output of opium made from poppy seeds in Afghanistan, the sector’s foremost source of heroin, stands at around nine,000 metric tons this 12 months.

UNODC has warned within the beyond that Kabul’s weakening grip on security became contributing to a collapse in eradication efforts.