Opium - Bust, Boom and Bust

Dec 18 2024 The New York Times

The Once Booming Drug Town Going Bust Under Taliban Rule

Here, a shorter and simpler version of the piece;

When the Taliban came to power in 1996, they banned growing poppy and the opium trade. And they enforced the ban ruthlessly. The farmers could not grow poppy, and they struggled and stayed poor.

In 2001, the Americans invade the country, and push the Taliban out. The insurgency starts.

Taliban needs money to fund the insurgency and starts to promote growing poppy, and the production and export of opium. The farmers earn good money, from a cash crop with a long shelf life.

The drug trade grows exponentially, and the Taliban, being morally flexible, tax the trade, and earn millions upon millions over the years. The farmers, traders, smugglers, and everyone else connected to the drug trade earn good money.

Americans try eradication, but destroying the cash crop farmers depend on, is not a winning strategy, and it does not work.

The Americans leave, the Taliban gain power again, and the war ends.

Once in power, the Taliban again ban growing poppy and the whole drug trade. And again they enforce the ban ruthlessly. The farmers, again, struggle and stay poor.

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The really short version would be

Taliban in power - opium bad - farmer poor
No power, need money - opium good - farmer not so poor
Back in power - opium bad - again, farmer poor