Drug smuggling funding militants: Ghani

PESHAWAR: NWFP Governor, Mr. Owais Ahmed Ghani said the narcotics smuggling from across the border has been found as one of the major funding sources for militants in our country.

He expressed these views while talking to the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Mr. David Johnson who called on Owais Ahmed Ghani at Governor's House, Peshawar on Tuesday.

Mr. David Johnson who was also accompanied by Islamabad based US Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Gerald Feierstein, remained with the Governor for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest with special reference to the problem of narcotics production and its smuggling as well as its impact on the overall law and order situation especially in this region.

Talking on this occasion, the Governor highlighted the tremendous achievements of the government in its efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation and said, "though we have been maintaining the level of our successes in our country in this respect, yet, the narcotics smuggling from across the border still remains a serious issue."   In this connection, he mentioned the war against terrorism and extremism and said that narcotics smuggling from across the border has also been found as one of the major funding line for militants in our country.

There exists serious apprehension, he remarked, it will continue to remain a serious threat to peace in this region in future as well and therefore concrete initiatives at the respective levels are required to over come the problem.

The Governor also mentioned the contribution of US Aid funded projects in providing alternate means of employment in the poppy growing areas and said that a highly positive impact was seen in the respective areas.

Responding to a point, he also conceded that there is need to continue the efforts vigorously at the international level to achieve the goal of ensuring a drug free society.