Opium cultivation continues even as Taliban vows crackdown on Afghanistan's drug trade

Now in power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have vowed to launch a crackdown on the country's drug trade and have asked farmers not to cultivate opium - a major source of income for Afghans.

The Taliban's move to eradicate the drug trade in Afghanistan and ban opium production has faced challenges on several fronts. With the country being one of the biggest producers of opium and a lack of alternative livelihood, farmers continue to cultivate opium despite the Taliban's warning.

The illicit opium trade is intertwined with Afghanistan’s economy, which is in turmoil.