Drug Trafficking Concerns Rise as Punjab Faces Cross‑Border Interference, MP Warns

In a separate statement, Manish Tiwari warned that Punjab’s drug crisis remains a pressing reality, despite claims that the problem has vanished. He argued that denial only misleads the people of Punjab and hampers effective action.

Tiwari traced the rise of narcotics to the end of the 1990s insurgency, when he said Pakistan shifted its focus to a "narko‑terrorism" strategy aimed at destabilising the state. He noted that it took about one and a half decades for the public to recognise the systematic nature of the threat.

He expanded the scope of the issue, stating that the entire northern region—including Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Haryana—faces a severe and sensitive drug problem. The MP called on governments to adopt coordinated policies, improve treatment facilities, and intensify cross‑border interceptions.

The call for action follows the recent ASI killing, which Tiwari believes underscores the broader security vacuum that criminal networks are exploiting.