Russia: War on Terrorism in Afghanistan Depends on Anti-Drug Efforts

Source: farsnews

TEHRAN (FNA)- Chief of Russia's Federal Drug Control Service (FDCS) Viktor Ivanov underlined the importance of anti-drug efforts in Afghanistan for ending the problem of terrorism in the war-torn country.

"Resolving the problem of terrorism in Afghanistan is impossible without dealing with the issue of drug production in the country," Ivanov told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Commander of the anti-narcotics squad of Iran's Law Enforcement Police General Hamid Reza Hossein-Abadi here in Tehran today. "Production of narcotics in Afghanistan boosts crimes in that country as well as the other regional countries," Ivanov added. "Drug production in Afghanistan causes a spread of terrorism, and Iran, Pakistan and Russia hold common views on this issue," the Russia official noted. He also lauded Iran's performance in drug campaign, and stressed, "We are eager to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the campaign against narcotics." Ivanov further said for a much effective campaign, Tehran and Moscow should confront drug production in Afghanistan and find a solution to the problem. Iran leads international efforts in fighting drug networks and narcotic traffickers. According to the statistical figures released by the UN, Iran ranks first among the world countries in preventing entry of drugs and decreasing demand for narcotics. The United Nations credits Iran with the seizure of 80 percent of the opium netted around the world. Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian police have lost more than 3700 of their personnel in the country's combat against narcotics. Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe. Each year, the Iranian government spends hundreds of millions of dollars erecting barriers along the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan and pumping resources into checkpoints. Officials said the battle against drug addiction and trafficking costs Iran US$1 billion a year.