FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN MAY LEAD TO OPIUM PRODUCTION

WASHINGTON (AP)--Opium could again flow from Afghanistan should the
United States make war on terrorism in the region, U.S. and U.N.
officials say.

The officials said they are concerned the ruling Taliban will lift
their recent ban on poppy cultivation in its territory in an effort
to raise money to finance fighting against the United States.

Harvesting of poppies for opium could also increase if the Taliban
loses authority over parts of Afghanistan, because farmers would no
longer fear reprisals for growing the highly profitable cash crop.

Afghanistan had been the world's leading producer of opium before the
Taliban, citing Islamic religious principles, banned it in July 2000.
Farmers complied, resulting in a 97% drop in opium production.

Opium had been an important source of revenue for the Taliban as they
fought an opposition coalition in the northern part of the country,
netting the group tens of millions of dollars a year, said one U.S.
official.

No U.S. officials interviewed Wednesday, all of whom spoke on
condition of anonymity, nor U.N. officials, said they have evidence
that the ban has been lifted.

With the next six-month growing season set to begin in October,
farmers will have to choose between planting poppies or the much less
profitable wheat crop.

In 2000, Afghanistan produced about 4,000 tons of opium, accounting
for about 75% of the world market. Almost all of it was consumed as
heroin in Europe or other opiates in Asia. Most heroin sold in the
United States comes from Latin America.

After the ban, production in 2001 fell to 81 tons, according to the
State Department. Of those, 76 tons came from areas controlled by the
northern alliance, the primary opposition to the Taliban in
Afghanistan. The alliance is believed to fund its effort in part
through opium trafficking, as well.

The drop in supply caused the wholesale price per pound to soar from
about $15 to as high as $350, according to U.N. officials. The ban
earned rare praise for the Taliban, which have been repeatedly
denounced for links to terrorists, suppression of women and
destruction of relics of other religions.

U.S. and international officials have remained skeptical of the
Taliban's commitment to drug eradication. Some suspected the Taliban
were trying to cut supply to raise prices and control the market.
They also said the Taliban hadn't wiped out existing stockpiles,
which the United Nations said could total 100 tons.

This week, wholesale prices fell, according to U.N. figures, leading
to speculation that Afghan traffickers may already be selling their
stock.

But Arlacchi said that doesn't mean the Taliban would be involved in the sales.

"Criminal groups, who are as powerful as the Taliban and as powerful
as anyone else in Afghanistan, have full control of those
stockpiles," he said.

Before Sept. 11, the United States had planned to provide about $2
million in aid for Afghan farmers to help compensate them for losses
resulting from opium eradication.

Additional aid was considered for farmers in areas controlled by the
opposition. State Department and U.N. officials said northern
alliance leaders have agreed to help eradicate opium.

In March, the State Department said in its annual narcotics report
that the "northern alliance has taken no action of which we are aware
against cultivation and trafficking in its area."