Obama identifies Pakistan as “major transit country” for narcotics
September 17th, 2010 - 5:47 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Sept 17 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has identified Pakistan as a major transit country for opiates and hashish for markets around the world, especially for narcotics originating in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan also is a major transit country for precursor chemicals illegally smuggled to Afghanistan where they are used to process heroin.” The Nation quoted Obama, as saying in a memorandum to the Secretary of State, identifying it among the twenty major drug transit or drug-producing countries of the world.
“Pakistan is still challenged by extremist groups who have power over parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, particularly where most of Pakistan’s poppy is grown,” he added.
However, Obama added that Pakistan government was working towards tackling this problem in a bid to return to opium poppy-free status soon.
“The Government of Pakistan is forced to divert law enforcement resources and equipment from poppy eradication efforts to address these incursions,” he noted.
He pointed out that joint US-Pakistan survey conducted in 2009 estimated that 1,779 hectares of opium poppies were under cultivation in Pakistan, approximately 130 hectares less than was under cultivation in the country during the previous year.
“The range of US-Pakistan initiatives, which include programs to defeat insurgency on Pakistan-Afghanistan border and prevent terrorist safe-havens, have the spin-off effect of helping Pakistan to fortify its land borders and seacoast against drug trafficking and terrorists, support expanded regional cooperation, and encourages Pakistan to return to opium poppy-free status,” Obama said. (ANI)
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- Afghanistan producing more opium: official - Nov 22, 2011
- No one cures Punjab's drug problem (Punjab Newsletter) - Feb 10, 2012
- 54 drug smugglers held in Afghanistan - Jan 10, 2011
- UN chief urges Afghanistan to prioritise anti-drugs effort - Feb 17, 2012
- Cabinet allows private sector to produce poppy concentrate - Jan 12, 2012
- Afghanistan is world's largest hashish producer, says UN - Mar 31, 2010
- Afghan lawmakers ask Russia for help ahead of US exit - Dec 03, 2011
- India among top drugs hotspots: UN report (Lead) - Mar 02, 2011
- Afghan opium production up by 61 percent - Oct 11, 2011
- Punjab drug scene hits a new 'high' - Nov 22, 2010
- Pakistan-Afghanistan border trade deal challenged in court - Jul 24, 2010
Tags: afghanistan pakistan, barack obama, drug trafficking, drug transit, eradication efforts, extremist groups, government of pakistan, hashish, incursions, land borders, law enforcement resources, opiates, opium poppies, opium poppy, pakistan government, precursor chemicals, regional cooperation, safe havens, transit country, tribal areas