[PapaBear3625]

Historically, the way cultures have grown and flourished is through trade. Through it, you exchange goods, services and more importantly ideas. None of that has happened to a large portion of Afghanistan so they have remained backwards and set in their ways for hundreds of years. They have the same problems in the Pashtun areas that existed when it butted up against Kiplings Indian northwest frontier. Ultimately education in the Pashtun area will be key to reform in Afghanistan.

What valuable products does Afghanistan have to trade, other than opium?

[Carthego delenda est]

“What valuable products does Afghanistan have to trade, other than opium?”

Afghanistan is loaded with minerals, including many of the ‘rare earth’ minerals in high demand right now.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"What valuable products does Afghanistan have to trade, other than opium?"

Per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Afghanistan

Main industries
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food-products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Per that article also they even had a tourism industry before the Russian invasion. Quite frankly, when you have been at war for the better part of 38 years, your economy is going to take a hit.