Which neighbouring country of India is currently recognised as the largest producer of opium in the world?

Introduction / Context:
This general knowledge question focuses on narcotics production and geography, specifically the major global producer of opium that also shares a border region with India. Issues related to opium cultivation, illegal drugs, cross border smuggling and their impact on security often appear in competitive examinations. Knowing which neighbouring country produces the largest quantities of opium helps students understand regional security challenges and international efforts against drug trafficking.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are concerned with opium production at the world level.
• The country in question must be a neighbour of India.
• Options provided are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
• The question is based on widely known international narcotics reports and statistics.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to combine geographical knowledge with awareness of global narcotics trends. United Nations and other international agencies repeatedly highlight Afghanistan as the largest producer of illicit opium in the world. Although Pakistan also faces drug related issues, it is not the largest producer. Sri Lanka and Maldives are island nations with no major opium cultivating reputation. Therefore, by linking the concept of major opium cultivation with the correct geographical neighbour, we can arrive at the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which of the four countries share some type of regional neighbourhood relation with India. All four are part of the broader South Asian region, but opium cultivation is concentrated in specific areas. Step 2: Recall which country is repeatedly described in reports as the largest producer of opium in the world. Step 3: Recognise that Afghanistan has vast areas under illegal opium poppy cultivation and has been at the centre of the global opium trade. Step 4: Note that Pakistan has trafficking routes but not the largest cultivation share, and that Sri Lanka and Maldives are not known for large scale opium production. Step 5: Conclude logically that the only option that fits the description of the largest global opium producer is Afghanistan.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify the answer, one can recall that the term Golden Crescent is often used for the region comprising Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, which is associated with opium production and trafficking. Within this crescent, Afghanistan dominates in terms of cultivated area and output. International drug control reports consistently emphasise Afghanistan as responsible for the overwhelming majority of global illicit opium production. As none of the other listed neighbours have similar statistics, this serves as an alternative confirmation that Afghanistan is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pakistan: Although Pakistan is a transit and sometimes cultivation area, it is not recognised as the largest producer of opium in the world.
Sri Lanka: This island country does not have large scale opium cultivation and is not identified as a major opium producing nation.
Maldives: This small island nation is primarily a tourist destination and has no reputation as a significant opium cultivating country.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse transit routes with production centres. Some learners may choose Pakistan due to news about drug smuggling across borders, forgetting that actual large scale cultivation is concentrated in Afghanistan. Others may overlook the requirement that the country must be a leading global producer, not just a regional neighbour. Keeping track of key phrases like largest producer and comparing them with known narcotics geographies helps prevent such errors in current affairs based questions.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Afghanistan, which is widely recognised as the largest producer of opium in the world among the neighbouring countries of India.