Poppies spread into Pakistan and Iran

Afghanistan produced the world's largest share of opium for decades, but that status has changed. The Taliban banned illicit narcotics in 2022. Production inside the country has dropped sharply. The crop is now moving across the border into Pakistan and Iran.

The shift began when the Taliban enforced their ban in 2022. Local farmers in Afghanistan faced pressure to stop planting poppies. Many crossed into neighboring territories. David Mansfield, a UK-based expert on Afghanistan's illicit drugs industry, said the ban and instability created conditions for widespread cultivation in the borderlands. He described the area as a new global center for opium production.

Satellite imagery from Alcis, a British firm, identified more than 9,000 hectares of poppy cultivation in Balochistan, Pakistan. Most of the land is in the districts of Loralai and Killa Abdullah. Mansfield wrote an August report for Alcis detailing these findings. He noted that Afghan growers from Kandahar and Helmand are leasing land in the region. They bring capital and farming expertise to the area.

Abdul Qahar Wadan, a former National Assembly member, said cultivation is rampant in Killa Abdullah. He alleged that senior military officials and local power brokers support the farms. They take commissions from growers. Monawar Hussain, the district's chief administrative officer, rejected this claim. He said cultivation declined after an eradication campaign last year. However, Alcis imagery from 2026 shows no clear evidence of large-scale removal of the crops.

Farmers in the region say they switch to poppies due to drought and insecurity. Lala Jan Kakar, a resident of Killa Abdullah, stated that traditional fruit farming is devastated by climate issues. He said the demand for poppies exceeds demand for fruits. The income from poppies is also higher. Growers pay bribes to local authorities through intermediaries to protect their fields. Some plant poppies on barren land only to have them destroyed for public display when media attention rises.

A similar pattern exists in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province. Afghan farmers work there as tenants and sharecroppers. They rely on family ties to secure land. Satellite imagery from 2026 shows extensive poppy fields in the region. Some fields use drip irrigation. This costly investment suggests growers expected little risk of eradication. Iranian authorities have been focused on the war against the United States and Israel since late February. They have not destroyed the 2026 crop.

Mansfield noted a shift from mixed farming to large-scale poppy monoculture in these border regions. Poppies can be harvested twice a year. Many farmers doubled their cultivated land in 2026. Mansfield called this a stark indication that cultivation levels will rise in 2027. Experts warn that increased production could boost heroin supplies on international markets. It may also generate income for armed groups.

Cultivation is also rebounding inside Afghanistan. Production is concentrated in northeastern Badakhshan Province. This area accounts for around half of national output. Farmers in Badakhshan and Helmand have protested the ban due to drought and debt. Southwestern cultivation almost doubled between 2025 and 2026. The crops are often hidden behind compound walls or within wheat fields. The Taliban has issued a directive barring home searches for poppy without a court order. This move aims to prevent unrest as the economic crisis deepens.