Afghanistan is Still The World's Largest Opium and Heroin Producer

Opium production has been one of Afghanistan source of economy. Since 1950's in the area known as Golden Crescent is a well-known opium and heroin production in the world.

Golden Crescent is the principal area where illicit opium production occupied more than 200,000 hectares of plantation in the southwest Asia. Part of the area is now under Taliban control, that operates poppy fields to fund its insurgency.

Since the international military action to combat Taliban in 2001 was launched under U.S. leadership, the Taliban was forced to retreat to remote area of Afghanistan. Helmand province, situated in the southern part of the country is one of the strategic location for poppy field cultivation.

According to Washington Post, on Tuesday before Christmas, Afghan forces launched an offensive to regain control on Sangin district, the major opium-poppy-growing district of Helmand. The district was the focus of intensive combat deployments by British forces and then U.S. Marines between 2006 and 2010.

U.S. News reported that the intense fight last for two days. Finally, last Thursday, Afghan forces backed by U.S. air strikes finally pushed back a Taliban onslaught. Sangin district had been besieged by Taliban for weeks, as well as some other areas.

Afghanistan government have been struggling to deter heavy pressure from Taliban in many areas of the country. The government has now faced a new threat from a well-armed insurgent in alliance with Islamic State. The new insurgent in Afghanistan have arisen because Russian military occupation is Islamic State territory has successfully brought an end to Islamic State stolen oil business.

Sputnik reported that Russian military operation has ended the oil smuggling business between Islamic State and Turkey. For a few years the Islamic State was selling stolen crude to Turkey and purportedly, to other NATO members. After its oil smuggling operation have been crippled, Islamic State is forced to seek new sources of funds, and began "active expansion" to Libya and Afghanistan.

Political analyst Martin Berger told Sputnik that, "Afghanistan occupies the position of an international leader in the production and export of opiates in the world." He also emphasized, " Last year Afghanistan sold 85% of all opium and 77% of all heroin in the world. Cultivation of opium is one of the key areas of economic activity in Afghanistan."

Afghanistan has around 224,000 hectares (553,500 acres) of poppy field, and it is an interesting source of fund for terrorist activities. A growing insurgency to regain control of the larger poppy-field cultivating area is a clear indication that terrorist organizations desperately need a new source of fund.