Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: Senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jayesh Gupta has strongly advocated for an immediate crackdown on the growing drug trade in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), citing its direct links to terror funding by Pakistan.
Gupta stressed that this illegal trade is not only devastating the lives of youth in the region but is also being used to fuel militant activities in the Union Territory.
“The drug menace, which earlier impacted regions like Punjab and the North-East, has in recent years surged in J&K. The alarming rise in heroin consumption and drug abuse cases in the area has become a serious concern for security forces, who have noticed a correlation between drug smuggling and the increased frequency of terror-related incidents,” Gupta said in a statement today.
The AAP leader further explained that Pakistan has long utilized narco-terrorism as a tool to destabilize Indian States bordering the country. He noted that young individuals who fall into drug addiction are more vulnerable to manipulation, losing their cognitive abilities and becoming prime targets for radicalization.
He highlighted that the narco-trade plays a dual role: funding terrorism while simultaneously impairing the youth of J&K. “There is an intricate network at play, where drug syndicates and over ground workers collaborate to purchase and distribute narcotics, generating revenue that finances banned terror organizations,” Gupta alleged.
He appealed for urgent intervention, stressing that strong policies and enforcement are essential to protect the youth and curb the growing narco-terror nexus in the region.
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