Pakistan battles resurgent opium trade
Authorities are intensifying crackdown after Taliban ban pushes drug trade into neighbouring country
Authorities are intensifying crackdown after Taliban ban pushes drug trade into neighbouring country

Hundreds reported dead in worst fighting between neighbours for months

Demand for harmful drugs must be curbed in order to squeeze powerful cartels

As violence spreads from border regions to cities, Islamabad is running out of patience

When these countries become arenas for militancy, the repercussions reverberate far beyond their borders

Failure to prevent the rise and spread of infections in conflict zones imperils health security everywhere

However difficult it may be, the world needs to re-engage with the troubled region