US lists India, Pakistan among 23 major drug producing and trafficking countries

The United States has included India, Pakistan, and 21 other nations on a list of major drug-producing or drug transit countries for the year 2026. The list, released Monday by the U.S. Department of State under the "Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries", highlights the global spread of illegal drug activity and its threat to US national security.

The inclusion of Asian powerhouses like India, Pakistan, and China has raised eyebrows internationally. While these countries are not typically seen as primary sources of narcotics, the State Department emphasized that geographic, commercial, and economic factors were taken into account when compiling the list. It clarified that inclusion on the list does not reflect a government's anti-drug efforts or its level of cooperation with the US.

Other countries named include Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

According to President Donald Trump, five countries Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, and Venezuela have failed over the past year to adhere to international counter-narcotics obligations.

President Trump also urged China to take stronger action against the trafficking of synthetic drugs, such as nitazenes and methamphetamines, which are being smuggled into the U.S. in increasing quantities.

The State Department highlighted the growing threat posed by organized criminal groups trafficking fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States. The crisis, it noted, has become a national emergency, endangering the lives of Americans aged 18 to 44, the demographic most affected by drug overdoses.

Despite a formal ban by the Taliban on drug production and storage, the U.S. alleges that illegal drug exports from Afghanistan continue unabated. The profits from this trade are reportedly funding both criminal networks and terrorist organizations, with many Taliban members financially benefiting from the ongoing narcotics business.

In a strong statement, the US State Department accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading the world’s largest cocaine trafficking network. The Trump administration pledged to intensify efforts to bring Maduro and his associates to justice, while also continuing operations against criminal syndicates such as Tren de Aragua and the infamous Cartel of the Suns (Cartel de los Soles).