Illegal narcotics trade: Pakistan cancels DG ANF’s visit to India next month

Meeting of South Asian counties on illegal narcotics trade will be held in September under Colombo Plan in New Delhi

The government decided on Wednesday against sending director general of the Anti-Narcotics Force to attend a meeting on illegal narcotics trade to be held in New Delhi next month, The Economic Times reported.

The decision comes days after the scheduled talks between the national security advisers (NSAs) of the two neighbours were called off just hours before Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister’s adviser of national security and foreign affairs, was set to fly to New Delhi.

The meeting of South Asian counties on illegal narcotics trade is to be held in September under the Colombo Plan.

“Pakistan has sent a terse note, simply expressing regret over not being able to make it for the meeting on September 9-11,” Indian officials said.

India invited Pakistan after the latter had conveyed its keenness to be a part of the former’s effort under the 26-member Colombo Plan, the officials added.

The Pakistani delegation was to be the first to reach India after the scheduled NSA-level talks.

“The withdrawal has come after the cancellation of the NSA talks. It’s significant because this is, otherwise, a routine regional meeting,” a senior Indian official, who did not wish to be named, was quoted as saying.

Further, the official termed the development a ‘big setback’, claiming Pakistan to be an important country as far as smuggling, transit and supply of various forms of drugs are concerned.

According to reports, authorities in India were planning to share information with Pakistan regarding some of the suspected drug lords allegedly operating from inside the Pakistani territory.

However, Pakistan Rangers officials told The Express Tribune on Wednesday that Pakistan and India’s border officials will meet next month in New Delhi for a bi-annual meeting.

Meanwhile, a number of other regional countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Myanmar are expected to attend the event.

This article originally appeared on The Economic Times.