Advanced plans by the United States to halt Afghanistan’s poppy production by spraying the crops from the air are being challenged by the UK government, the World Bank and by Afghanistan’s newly elected president, Hamid Karzai.
The confrontation threatens to expose Karzai’s limited political control in Afghanistan and could see him challenge for the first time the US masters who effectively delivered him to power. It will also test US and UK co-operation in joint efforts to limit the flow of heroin coming into Europe and the US.
The new-found determination by Washington to deliver a quick-fix solution to the rise in poppy production – which now accounts for 60% of Afghanistan’s GDP – will also pit Karzai against many of the key “warlord” supporters who make huge profits from the ubiquitous Afghan drugs trade which now involves 2.3 million people, one in 10 of the population.
Farmers in Afghanistan fear food crops will be sprayed alongside poppy fields. Environmental organisations say quantities of largely untested herbicides could damage both human health and the wider environment. The World Bank fear “aerial eradication” will increase levels of poverty, rural rebellions, instability and a regeneration of Taliban support.
http://www.sundayherald.com/46238
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
