Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Qane said in response to a report on human trafficking by the United States that the Islamic Emirate has struggled “decisively” in connection with human trafficking and has made some achievements in this matter.

Qane said in a voice message on Wednesday that he rejects the claims of the US that the Islamic Emirate has failed to act against the scourge. He said the Ministry of Interior has recorded 210 cases related to human trafficking and arrested more than 300 suspects.

According to Qane, the human trafficking department under the senior deputy of security affairs of the Ministry of Interior has its own offices in Kabul and provinces and “fights decisively” against the problem.

He added that the Interior Ministry has a clear strategy in its fight against human trafficking and that the cases of human trafficking in Afghanistan are limited.

The US State Department said in a recent report that Afghanistan is one of 11 countries whose governments follow the model or policy of human trafficking.

In its annual report on human trafficking, the US State Department said that the current government of Afghanistan has not taken any steps to prevent human trafficking and has paid minimal attention to the problem.

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Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that a peaceful, stable Afghanistan would benefit both countries and promote prosperity in Central Asia and beyond.

Speaking at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on Tuesday, he highlighted the importance of dialogue, the avoidance of bloc politics, and adherence to the UN Charter, the Tribune reported.

Dar emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining good neighborly relations with all countries, despite facing certain challenges.

He highlighted Pakistan’s cooperation with Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover in August 2021 to avert a humanitarian crisis but stated Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against any state. He urged the Islamic Emirate to address Pakistan’s concerns.

He stressed that a peaceful, stable, united, and prosperous Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest due to shared history, geography, culture, and music.

He also stated that Pakistan aims for deeper partnerships with Iran, Gulf nations, Turkey, Central Asian states, and Azerbaijan, prioritizing trade, investment, and regional connectivity through the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Tribune reported.

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The Ministry of Public Health says more than 54,000 drug addicts have been treated since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s takeover in August 2021.

Marking World Drug Day on Wednesday in Kabul, health officials said that addiction is a serious social problem and more effort should be made to prevent it.

They stated that the IEA has taken effective steps to prevent the cultivation, production and trafficking of drugs and has treated 54,346 drug addicts in 61 centers in nearly three years.

Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Public Health, said “54,346 drug addicts have been treated since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover.”

The Ministry of Interior’s counter-narcotics department also said that 15,000 drug addicts are currently receiving treatment in 12 centers.

A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) also said that this organization supports the process of treating addicts and the fight against drugs.

“From 2014 to 2021, the number of drug addicts in the world has increased from 240 to 296 million. In cooperation with our implementing partners, we also support a number of drug addiction treatment centers in Afghanistan,” said WHO representative for Afghanistan.

In the past, Afghanistan was one of the main drug-producing countries in the world.

However, after the prohibition of drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan, the United Nations reported a 95% decrease in poppy cultivation in the country.

The Islamic Emirate has however repeatedly appealed to the international community for help to provide alternative crops, but countries have not yet stepped forward to assist.

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