It was not a surprise that the infamous Golden Crescent
comprising Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan once again
featured prominently in the annual Report of the
International Narcotics Control Board, released on Tuesday.

The surprise was that the news out of Iran was actually
good. It was given high marks for its efforts at
eradicating opium cultivation and fighting the drug trade.

"Reports from Iran are incredibly good," said Giovanni
Quaglia of the United Nations International Drug Control
Program when the report was released. "The government has
managed to invest US$ 300 million in infrastructure
projects on the border with Pakistan and this has had a
positive effect in combating the crossborder drug trade."

The UN itself cannot match Iran's commitments. A meager
US$ 16 million is being invested by the UN in parts of
Afghanistan over a fouryear period to curtail poppy
cultivation.

Afghanistan has earned the dubious distinction of
emerging as the world's largest producer of illicit
opiates. Pakistan stands as one the countries hardest hit
by narcotics abuse, with more than three million chronic
drug abusers out of a population of nearly 130 million.

Quaglia said 90 percent of opium cultivation areas in
Afghanistan were under the control of the Taliban militia,
who control most of the country. "We are working with the
Taliban provincial administration to start schemes in
certain districts of Afghanistan," he said. While drug use
in Pakistan is high, the country did win praise for its
efforts in eradicating opium cultivation. An analysis of
the 1996 growing season suggested a substantial decline in
the area harvested, from 4,709 hectares in 1995 to 1,038
hectares. UN officials also expressed satisfaction over
cooperation between Pakistan and India in the control of
drug trafficking.

"It is one of the only things in which the two countries
cooperate," said Dil Jan Khan, Pakistan's representative to
the narcotics control board.

In Southeast Asia, the report said the surrender in
Myanmar of insurgent leader Khun Sa and resulting closure
of clandestine refineries had created a shortage of heroin
in Thailand and higher prices for the drug on the
MyanmarThai border.

It said opium smoking was diminishing in most of Asia,
but was being replaced by heroin injection, "a far more
dangerous practice". It also expressed concern over the
growing popularity of stimulants, such as ecstasy and
methamphetamine.