Taliban Uses Children in Opium Eradication in Badakhshan, Sparking Outcry

A recently circulated video on social media reveals that the Taliban administration has employed schoolchildren to uproot poppy plants during an opium eradication campaign in Badakhshan province. The footage shows several young children using their bare hands to pull poppy plants from a field.

This incident has triggered widespread reactions on social media. Many users expressed concern, stating that involving children in such operations violates educational principles and fundamental child rights.

Badakhshan, located in northeastern Afghanistan, has witnessed poppy cultivation over recent years alongside several other provinces. Since regaining control over Afghanistan, the Taliban administration has repeatedly spoken against poppy cultivation and launched operations across various provinces to destroy these crops.

However, using children in such hazardous field activities raises serious questions about the respect for children’s rights and the responsibilities of relevant authorities to ensure their safety and education. Social activists emphasize that children should be in classrooms, not in operational areas that could threaten their physical and mental well-being.