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Drug Growers: Poppy farmers in northern Pakistan arm themselves to fight the government For downloads and more information visit http://www.journeyman.tv/9666/short-films/drug-growers.html Growing hashish and opium is part of the culture of Pashtun tribes in northern Pakistan. Many depend on it for their livelihoods. Armed resistance is their only way to fight their governments 'Holy War' on drugs. With weapons like the AK47 freely available in Darra (the arms capital of North West Pakistan) neither side will back down. We visit the secretive tribally-controlled Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan authorities don't dare close the multitude of heroin labs - they fear rebellion. Last time the government took on the Pushtun, ninety people were killed. Film of Pashtun poppy farmer Fez Mohammed, government anti-drug crusader Nawaz Malik, smoking in a hash den, the buying of weapons, tribal leaders, and James Magnor, the US narcotics attaché in Pakistan. Given viable alternative industries and jobs, the Pashtun people say they will abandon the poppy. Now, there is little hope of that with a government which now spends 80% of its budget on its military and the servicing of its national debt. ABC Australia - Ref. 21 Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about.