Russia's foreign policy department states that the drug situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate. According to expert estimates, in 2017, a sharp increase in drug production is expected. At the same time, the area of drug crops in the country has already exceeded last year’s figures, and about a third of the population is involved in the cultivation of opium poppy, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes.
We consider the recommendation of the United States Special Inspector for Reconstruction of Afghanistan John Sopko to the American leadership on the need to develop a US anti-drug strategy in the IRA as relevant. John Sopko's information on the 8,5 billion dollars spent by Washington on the anti-drug campaign in Afghanistan directly indicates its failure: drug production in the IRA breaks records, and the country remains the world's largest producer and exporter of opium
- said in the comments of the Russian Foreign Ministry, reports RIA NewsAccording to the Russian side, the areas of drug crops in Afghanistan exceeded last year's figures, about a third of the population is involved in the cultivation of opium poppy. An increasing number of narcotic drugs from Afghanistan is supplied to Europe through Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes.
At the same time, tons of precursors are illegally imported into Afghanistan every year for the manufacture of narcotic substances, and, according to information from Afghan sources, such countries as Italy, France and the Netherlands are the main suppliers.
In this connection, the unwillingness or inability of the US and NATO forces, despite their long-term presence in Afghanistan, to provide effective assistance to the IRA government in the fight against drug production, which is known to be a key source of terrorist financing, is puzzling.
- the document says.