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Nato to target Afghan drugs trade
by Sanjay Jha | October 10, 2008 at 03:48 am | 50 views | 1 comment | 2 recommendations
Concerned with growth in drug trade in Afghanistan, NATO forces have been empowered to target opium factories. The UN said in August that poppy production in Afghanistan was down this year after a record-breaking harvest in 2007.
Nato has agreed its troops will be allowed to attack opium factories for the first time in Afghanistan.
Alliance spokesman James Appathurai said troops will act with Afghan forces "against facilities and facilitators" using drugs to finance the Taleban.
Agreement was reached during a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Budapest.
All counter-narcotics operations have until now been carried out by Afghan forces. The US wants more aggressive tactics against the opium trade.
Nato and US-led forces have until now concentrated on eradicating poppy crops, rather than attacking opium factories and distribution networks.
Several Nato members fear that any crackdown would prompt a violent backlash against allied troops.
Mr Appathurai said participation would be "subject to the authorisation of respective nations".
He gave few further details. Nato defence ministers will review the mission in February.
Afghanistan supplies more than 90% of the world's illicit opium, the main ingredient of heroin.
October 10, 2008 at 03:48 am by Sanjay Jha, 50 views, 1 comment
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maktogoek
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 05:24 on October 11th, 2008
Sanjay Jha, I like this story. It's a good story: NATO have made a right mess of their actions by changing their minds so often. The whole is in a complete and is probably encouraging terrorists! The UK top brass is saying quite clearly that the war is not working. Karzhi's government is weak and corrupt yet nothing is done about it.