Afghanistan and Pakistan to Work Together Against Drugs

Added by James Morley on November 29, 2010

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to bring together their efforts with regard to fighting against narcotics.

Both countries’ officials made the announcement on Thursday, November 25, revealing that the ties between them are growing. The agreement was made during the Triangular Initiative’s yearly meeting.

The Triangular Initiative’s annual meeting took place in Islamabad, and participants were Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The meeting was overseen by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Tariq Khosa, the Pakistani Secretary of Narcotics Control, told reporters that that the fight against drug dealers will begin in the near future. On the other hand, UNODC adviser Nadeem Rehman said that the difference in the fight against narcotics will be more than noticeable.

The battle against narcotics has been hard on both countries. Up until now, each of the two was working separately with Iran. Now, liaison offices will be set up at each of the three countries’ borders, which will start off the joint-plan in the battle against drugs in Tehran.

The three countries will try to stop the huge production of opium, which, as seen in 2009, was as high as 6,900 tons. Afghanistan is the heart of narcotic makers, where 90 per cent of the globe’s opium is produced.

Opium is used to make heroin, one of the most addictive drugs. The heroin produced in Afghanistan is thereafter spread throughout the world through the other two countries, Pakistan and Iran.