A report attributed to the Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, describes how the Taliban removed and destroyed a network of makeshift drug-smuggling devices along Afghanistan’s borders with Iran and Pakistan. The interview, cited by TASS, portrays the catapults as a striking symbol of a regime change and the country’s shift in recent years. The ambassador notes that the devices were used to launch drugs across the frontier, aiding traffickers in reaching their accomplices on the other side.
According to Zhirnov, the catapults were large enough to evoke images of gallows, yet operated with a simple rubber sling between two bars. He described the mechanism as a rolling symbol of what he calls a pro-Western government that was dethroned when the Taliban regained control. The ambassador asserted that Afghanistan’s drug landscape had transformed under Taliban rule, turning parts of the country into a major heroin production and transit area.
Details about the operation of these catapults illustrate their approach. Traffickers would place the drugs on the beam, push off from a hill to generate momentum, and launch the payload across a distance. In the ambassador’s account, Taliban forces located and destroyed all such devices after they were identified, effectively halting this specific smuggling method along the borders.
The events described occurred in a broader context that began in early August 2021, when the Taliban intensified its offensive against Afghan government forces. The militants entered Kabul on August 15, and by the following day declared a conclusion to the war. As Western and local allies evacuated their personnel and sensitive affiliates, the U.S. military pulled out of Kabul’s airport on the night of August 31, 2021, marking the end of nearly two decades of American military presence in Afghanistan. The period also featured extensive international engagement and evolving security dynamics that continued to shape the region in the years that followed.
Reports also reference prior remarks from Taliban representatives regarding United States involvement in activities attributed to the Islamic State. These statements have circulated in various outlets, contributing to ongoing debates about regional security, counterterrorism, and the broader geopolitical implications of the Taliban’s governance and its interactions with neighboring states. The conversation underscores enduring questions about illicit drug networks, border control, and the practical challenges of monitoring and countering smuggling across Afghanistan’s frontiers.
Observers note that the episode reflects wider themes in Afghanistan’s post-2021 environment, including the balance of power among Afghanistan’s neighbors, the priorities of regional actors, and the evolving methods used by drug traffickers. The alleged destruction of the catapults by Taliban forces is presented as part of a broader effort to reassert sovereignty and reduce cross-border criminal activity, even as other illicit trafficking networks continue to adapt to new political realities. The ongoing situation remains a focal point for policymakers, security analysts, and international partners seeking to understand changes in border governance and to assess the effectiveness of counter-narcotics strategies in the region.