Am i a wimp or was that article kinda long?

Kind of make sense that Opium is eradicated since there is an embargo preventing export, causing an economy collapse. Any government regardless of their ideology leanings that wants to preserve power would switch their cash crops into sustenance crops.

See Cuba and the DPRK after the 90s or China post-split

Again this is not a pro-Taliban statement, this is just how insurrection happens to take over a country by building a parallel economy and governance within the country or global economy (see 1st Chinese Civil War until the defeat of the KMT by the communist force)

The Taliban has people on the ground that don't have to worry about being ambushed. Just casually strolling farm to farm.