Foreign Minister ZalmaiRassoul has said the Government is strongly committed and has taken specific steps on the national, regional and international levels to combat the world drug problem. He was talking at the International Conference of Ministers of Foreign Relations and Heads of Specialized National Agencies against the World Drug Problem attended by foreign ministers and representatives of national agencies from more than 60 countries held in Peru.
Our Foreign Minister said Government's steps include adopting laws and strengthening relevant law enforcement agencies, eradicating crops, eliminating laboratories, preventing precursors from entering the country, fighting drug trafficking, creating an alternative opportunity for farmers and actively engaging in all regional and international mechanisms and efforts on counter-narcotics.
He told the conference participants that during last ten years, the Afghan Government has eradicated 1925 poppy farms in 719 districts in 14 provinces. It seems like an official statement for domestic audience in another conference in Kabul and as if the participants of the international conference lack particular knowledge about the fact that Afghanistan still produces most of the world's poppy.
The high numbers could impress those who lack expert know about the subject, but those involved with anti-narcotics agencies know that more than the number of poppy farms eradicated, new ones have been cultivated in Afghanistan and the statistics is just a number game.
Minister Rassoul was right about the fact that Afghanistan is a prime victim of the drug problem and we pay heavy price, but his achievement counts and steps taken by the Karzai Administration have not been that effective.
According to UN reports, Afghanistan produced 5800 tons of opium in 2011; 3600 tons in 2010. Our one province Helmand alone accounts for 60% of the world's opium production. Afghanistan's drug economy is worth $2.4 billion. The Afghan Government must prioritize the issue of narcotics. Law enforcement agencies must work harder on eradication crops, eliminating laboratories, and take stern action against drug-lords.
The Government and international forces should enforce the poppy eradication campaign. The war on poppy is forgotten. Aside from the fact that a huge part of the financial support to insurgents comes from transport and smuggling of opium, it's also exporting deaths to millions of people around the world, and the number of drug addicts increasing in Afghanistan.
The Counter-Narcotics law is yet to go in effect. It was approved in 2009, but under the pretext of the so-called alternative programs, the Government has not implemented the law.
Once this law goes into effect, there will be legal action against farmers who cultivate poppy crop. The punishment is not strict, but this law must be implemented and practiced strongly.