AFGHANISTAN JOINS PAK-IRAN IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

ISLAMABAD, July 07 (Online): Pakistan and Iran have decided to include
Afghanistan as member of anti drug trafficking commission. The decision to
this extent was taken in two day Pak-Iran anti drug trafficking technical
committee meeting here on Tuesday where it was unanimously decided that all
the three countries would share intelligence for curbing the menace of
drugs from the region.

The meeting was attended by high ups of anti narcotics force of respective
countries.

Addressing the concluding session of the meeting Secretary Narcotics
Control Major (Retd) Khalid Latif hailed the inclusion of Afghanistan in
the commission saying that now all three member states will take concrete
steps for curbing the menace from the region.

"This commission will now be able to easily monitor the drug trafficking
but also the production of these drugs, specially poppy, which mainly grows
in Afghanistan," he noted.

He also said that Pakistan's effort in controlling drug trafficking is good
and Pakistan Anti Narcotics Force has apprehended some major drug barons.

He also expressed his gratitude to United Nations for providing assistance
to Pakistan for controlling the menace from the region.

Speaking at the occasion Nadeem Ahmed, Director General Anti Narcotics
Force said that the commission will play a linchpin role in devising a
strategy for curbing the menace of drugs from the region.

Now we will work in close relations not only with Iranian police but also
with Afghan government to control this evil, he noted.

Talking to Online Interior Ministry spokesman said that Afghanistan will
formally join the commission in February 2005 as the commission is
scheduled to meet in Iranian City of Sheraz.

Pakistan and Iran have also offered technical training for Afghan officers
and Afghan government has hinted a positive nod in this respect, he added.

The two-day meeting also reviewed the implementations of decisions taken in
previous meeting of the commission.