The Taliban declared a moratorium on narcotics production in Afghanistan, the world's largest opium supplier, on Monday.
According to a statement from the Taliban's supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, "All Afghans are warned that the growing of poppy is now totally outlawed all over the country."
"If someone breaches the order, the crop will be immediately destroyed, and the violator will be prosecuted under Sharia law," the order, delivered by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid at a news conference in the capital of Kabul, stated.
The decree also made it illegal to manufacture narcotics, as well as carry, sell, ship, and purchase hashish, alcohol, and heroin.
Drug regulation has been a significant demand of the world community of the Islamist group that took command of the country in August and is now seeking formal global recognition in order to lift sanctions that are obstructing banking, business, and growth.
According to experts, the Taliban prohibited poppy cultivation near the conclusion of their previous rule in 2000 in order to gain international recognition. Yet, they suffered a backlash and eventually altered their minds.
The country's poor economic position has motivated people of the country's south-eastern provinces to produce an illegal crop that might yield them greater profits than legal crops like wheat.
The Taliban expected strong opposition from some factions within the group to the prohibition on poppy cultivation, as well as an increase in the number of farmers producing poppy in recent months.
The restriction appears guaranteed to further devastate Afghanistan's poorest residents at a time when the country is under economic restraint.
Throughout the Taliban's years-long war, the group is said to have collected millions of dollars by charging farmers and middlemen who moved drugs outside of Afghanistan.
Senior officials in the administration backed by the United States are also said to have profited handsomely from the booming drug trade.
Afghanistan grows more opium than all other opium-producing nations combined, with record opium harvests for the sixth consecutive year.
While the ban will wreak havoc on drug companies, it will wreak havoc on small farmers who depend on opium production for survival.
It's difficult to predict how the Taliban will be able to grow alternative crops and provide financing to farmers now that Western development aid has ceased.
The prospect of the next year's poppy harvest is frequently used by Afghanistan's poorest to purchase essentials such as sugar, flour, cooking, and heating oil.
