Taliban generate 70% of their income off narcotics 'taxes': Malik

The Express Tribune - Pakistan - 14 November 2012

Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that around 70 per cent of Taliban’s income comes from managing and taxing the illicit drug business. This nexus between opium producers, mafia and Taliban has had a detrimental impact on security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said.

Chairing the concluding session of a two-day Regional Ministerial Conference entitled "counter narcotics, enhancing cooperation for effective coordinated and sustainable narcotics control,” the Minister said world is facing US $58 billion narcotics trade. (continue reading...)