Steadily increasing opium production is an impediment to Afghanistan's stability and security, and so it was important that President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai addressed the issue at Camp David. The Taliban has become more effective at profiting from the Afghan poppy crop and is using the opium industry to fuel its resurgence. The challenge for both governments is to make sure that counternarcotics and security efforts reinforce — not undermine — one another.
The governor of Pakistan's Baluchistan border province yesterday sharply rejected U.S. criticism of his country's efforts in the war on terror, saying in an interview that such comments could undermine popular support inside Pakistan to take on global terrorist groups.
The governor of Pakistan's Baluchistan border province yesterday sharply rejected U.S. criticism of his country's efforts in the war on terror, saying in an interview that such comments could undermine popular support inside Pakistan to take on global terrorist groups.
Awais Ghani told editors and reporters at The Washington Times that opium production throws a lifeline to the Taliban, and it also strengthens those elements that have a vested interest in the absence of a strong central government and the security it would provide.
But Mr. Ghani said U.S. analysts have failed to distinguish between terrorists with a global agenda, such as al Qaeda, and regional and local movements such as the Taliban.
