UK TO HELP POPPY ELIMINATION IN AFGHANISTAN

LONDON (NNI): British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that Britain was
ready for every kind of to eliminate poppy cultivation from Afghanistan.In
an interview with the BBC Pushto and Persian programmes before his
departure for the United States, Tony Blair said that Afghan farmers have
no other option and said the coalition partners would help them.

He said we would help Afghan farmers for long time.

He said that Afghan farmers could not earn big cash from poppy cultivation
but the drug smugglers are earning money from it.

He said that the situation is still critical in Afghanistan.

He said that coalition partners are working for the restoration of peace in
the war torn country.

He said that Britain is leading the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) and taking part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Tony Blair referred to head of Afghan Interim Administration Hamid Karzai's
decision about the elimination of poppy cultivation in the country.

He said that Britain was ready for every kind of help in this regard.

He said his country would provide every kind of help which is important
thing because 90% heroin smuggling to Britain is done from poppy production
in Afghanistan.

When the question was put to Blair that the elimination of poppy
cultivation was not possible until there is no peace.

He was asked about long stay of ISAF, he replied that there are British
peace keeping forces in that country and we would not withdraw them quickly.

He said that Britain and US are working with Karzai's government in the
formation of Afghan army.

He said that the ISAF had only been deployed in Kabul.

He said that we want the Afghan security forces should restore peace and
security in other parts of the country also.