Officials unite to curb drug cultivation, trafficking

Ministers from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran meet in Islamabad with active facilitation of UNODC.

ISLAMABAD: Ministers in charge of Narcotics control in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan met on Thursday with the active facilitation and support of the UNODC to expand and strengthen borders regarding drug control between the three countries.

The officials met at the 4th ministerial meeting of the Triangular Initiative (TI) and recalled steps taken since 2007, under the framework of the TI to tackle the challenges posed by the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs originating from Afghanistan, based on the principle of shared responsibility.

The TI was launched in 2007 to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement between the three countries.

“Five per cent of what is produced is consumed in Afghanistan and the rest is sent to countries across the world,” said Afghan Minister for Counter Narcotics Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani.

However, the initiative has helped build an extraordinary level of cooperation between the three countries on crucial issues such as border security and regional cooperation to deal with drug trafficking.

Previously, six joint operations were carried out which led to significant drug seizures of almost 2,500 kilogrammes of opium, heroin and hashish and at least 74 drug traffickers were arrested.

The officials highlighted the need for international cooperation  in drugs control which takes place in the context of international resolutions.

“Good cooperation in this region is very important. Narcotics are a big problem not just for the region but for the international community,” said Osmani. “We must succeed in this part,” he added.

Officials are hopeful that the new commitment, which includes enhancing the operations of the JPC by sharing drug-intelligence and information through this cell, will help conduct more effective drug intelligence, lead to coordinated operations and encourage the first simultaneous operation between Afghanistan and Pakistan as soon as possible.

They have agreed upon enhancing legal cooperation in drug related matters and holding a meeting twice a year, which will be chaired on a rotating basis by the heads of the counter narcotics police of Afghanistan (CNPA), the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police or Drug Control Headquarters (ANP/DCHQ) and the ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC)/Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2010.