Crippling The Taliban's Drug Trade

Afghan Poppy Fields

Taliban Face Killer Cash Flow Crises -- Strategy Page

No Taliban Summer offensive this year. Instead, it's the government forces who are attacking, with the targets being Taliban resources (drug operations) and supplies (access to Pakistan for reinforcements and weapons). The main target is Helmand province, where most of the world's heroin is produced. This is where the Taliban make the money that fuels their terror campaign. The Taliban control the local population largely through terror. Unable to handle the foreign troops in battle, the Taliban flee them. The only way the Taliban can inflict acceptable (not losing too many of their own) casualties on foreign troops is with roadside and suicide bombs. But if the Taliban lose Helmand, they lose the cash they need to pay most of their gunmen (and the families of the thousands of these fighters who die each year).

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My Comment: The Taliban needs money to support their insurgency .... any cutback will only degrade their ability to do so.

Update: DEA expands in Afghanistan -- Baltimore Sun