WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Monday determined Afghanistan and Pakistan as major illicit drug-producing countries.

In all, on the list of drug producers are 22 countries including Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

In a determination notified to Congress, Obama said Bolivia, Burma and Venezuela failed demonstrably during the last 12 months to make sufficient efforts to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotic agreements.

In accordance with provisions of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (FRAA), the president also determined that support for programmes to aid the promotion of democracy in Burma and Venezuela remained vital to the national interest of the US. He granted Burma and Venezuela National Interest Waivers, the State Department said.

A country’s presence on the list did not necessarily reflect its counter-narcotics efforts or its level of cooperation with the United States on illegal drug control, the statement added.

The designation can reflect a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to be produced and/or trafficked through a country. (Pajhwok)