Afghan opium cultivation up 61pc

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*
Perilous Times

Afghan opium cultivation up 61pc*

From correspondents in Washington

December 02, 2006 08:26pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse

OPIUM poppy cultivation shot up a whopping 61 per cent in Afghanistan
this year in a setback for US and NATO efforts to clamp down on the
country's illegal drug industry, according to new White House figures.

The anticipated record crop is seen as another boost for the resurgent
Taliban as the Islamic guerrilla movement is often accused by US
officials of using proceeds from drug sales to buy weapons and attract
new recruits.

The annual US government estimate for Afghan opium poppy cultivation
shows that approximately 172,600ha of poppy were cultivated throughout
the country this year, an increase of 61 per cent over 2005, the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy said yesterday.

Two southern Afghan provinces – Helmand and Oruzgan where the Taliban
has been the most active – are responsible for the bulk of the increase.

Poppy planting there was up 132 per cent from last year, compared to an
18 per cent increase in the remaining 31 provinces.

“While 2006 was a record year for poppy eradication, the news that net
cultivation has increased is disappointing,” John Walters, director of
the drug control office, said.

He acknowledged the booming industry posed a threat to Afghanistan's
internal stability, saying that “increased emphasis and continued
reductions are necessary” to reduce the country's drug trade.

Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson said that “stopping the
cultivation and traffic of opium is paramount in establishing rule of
law in Afghanistan”.

She vowed to continue working with the government of Afghanistan and
NATO allies to bring the opium industry under control.

The estimate is based on detailed satellite imagery of Afghanistan
produced by the US Government.