One of the major problems that have been influencing Afghan society to a great extent is the menace of the drugs. Afghanistan, unfortunately, has been victimized by its production and trafficking in such a way that it would be really a difficult task to drag the country out. It has now taken the form of an organized crime and it has also proved to be financially supporting the terrorism in the country.

Though international community has, on various occasions, emphasized that this menace should be stopped, Afghan government has not been able to take any tangible measure. In fact, it has penetrated so deep in Afghan society that the individuals and system that have to eradicate it, are themselves suffering from it. There are culprits among the government itself who are involved in this filthy business and there are many who are addict to it. President Karzai, on different occasions, has promised to take a serious measure in this regard, but his intentions have proved to be a lip service.

On Tuesdsay, May 29, 2012, President Karzai had a meeting with the Executive Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) – Yury Fedotov. The main objective of the meeting was to highlight different troubles and crimes that may erupt out of the menace of drugs, their production and use and their connection with growing terrorism. Prior to the meeting, a report was presented by UNODC to President on the drugs related issues. President Karzai appreciated the efforts carried out by the organization and called them as "essential for an effective result".

He also pointed out the need for serious steps regarding the eradication of the menace, but he also emphasized that drug trafficking and international terrorism were inextricably linked, and most of those involved in the trade were not Afghans. Stressing on the international involvement and role to curb the situation he said that political will existed to combat the social bane, but it was not possible for a single country to fight the massive menace on its own.

A strong international and concerted effort was vital to effectively contain the issue, primarily by strengthening Afghan's economy so that farmers are not forced into drug cultivation. It is, no doubt, that international efforts are required but the role of Afghan government and Afghan people must not be forgotten. They have to play the primary role and must lead the efforts in that regard.

The heartrending fact is that Afghan government has not done as much as it could have done. It had the support and the opportunity to launch a comprehensive campaign against the nuisance of drugs, but all it has done is marred by corruption. Though commenting on the production of drugs and performance of government President Karzai said that the cultivation of drug saw a dramatic drop in areas under government control. While in areas where a relatively poor government's writ prevails with anti-government activity present, the opium still exists, it is difficult to gauge the gains in this regard.

It is now an open secret that the poppy cultivation and its smuggling are linked with the networks of organized crime in the country that further extends to international mafia and drug dealing and they have their strong backers in the international drug market and national authorities who appear to be guardians of the nation.

But one of the most alarming and unfortunate facts is that they have their links with the terrorist networks in the country. The growing insurgency and expanding networks of terrorism suggest that the terrorists have strong financial support and currently there are many reports that disclose the fact that the terrorist networks receive most of their funding from the same source.

This scenario is really very much threatening. This is going to ruin the lives of the people of Afghanistan in various ways and unfortunately no break in it seems very much likely – at least not in near future as the statistics show that there has been and there will be increase in the opium production in the country if not handled properly.

The situation would not be difficult to handle if it was limited only to farmers but the fact is that the farmers are not alone to benefit from the rising prices and the rise in production; rather farmers take a negligible part of it while most of the income goes to the networks that manage its filthy business. And it is not concealed from knowing minds that the terrorist networks have a lion's share in such income.

So, it means that with the growth in the production of opium, there will be considerable increase in insurgency from the terrorist networks that are already in the process of gaining strength. Moreover, it has also been observed that the cultivations mostly take place in the areas where Taliban seem to have more control. It is believed that most of the cultivation is concentrated in southern Afghan provinces, and heartland of the Taliban-led insurgency, where the government does not seem to have much control.

This clearly suggests that there is connection between the poppy business and the growing insurgency. Definitely, the poppy business in Afghanistan is well knit in the larger network of organized crime. But unfortunately, the measures that have been carried out to counter the growth of this menace have not been comprehensive and serious.

It is even believed that the important figures are involved in backing this business that should, otherwise, have the responsibility to counter them. And the growing corruption and negligence of responsibility in the country does not let the government notice such realities.

So, the menace of poppy cultivation is determined to influence the country in various ways. It, on one side, is making drugs available to a large number of people, who are both intentionally and unintentionally becoming addict to it and becoming responsible for giving birth to different social problems.

On the other hand, it is providing the fuel for insurgency as it is bound to benefit the terrorist networks in the country that largely depend on such sources of income after losing support from elsewhere. Government authorities in this regard have to get very much serious and try to take concrete steps to make sure that the production is reduced to a considerable extent.

Destroying the crops is one of the most practical steps at the present scenario and can to a very great extent discourage the poppy cultivation but it has certain complexities with itself. For the long-lasting solution it is preferable that the government must try to facilitate the farmers and landowners the opportunity of growing alternate crops. Moreover, corruption, in this regard, must not be tolerated in any condition.