Afghanistan: Taliban pledges to end country’s opium dependence – but it won’t be easy

An edict by Afghanistan’s hardline Taliban rulers to ban poppy cultivation has gone largely ignored.

It’s the world leader in producing opium and heroin, and with aid now stopped because of sanctions, enforcing the ban would impoverish the country even further – and could erode support for the Taliban at the same time.

The bulk of the country’s opium is grown south of Kabul in the Taliban heartland of Helmand province.

Producer: Hila May

Camera/ Edit: Soren Munk.