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Afghan President Karzai criticises US-Russia drugs raid

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  • Afghan President Karzai criticises US-Russia drugs raid

    Afghan President Karzai criticises US-Russia drugs raid




    Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticised the first joint operation by Russian and US agents to destroy drug laboratories in his country.

    Mr Karzai said he had not been informed of Russia's participation - a sensitive issue in Afghanistan ever since the Soviet occupation ended 21 years ago.

    He called it a violation of Afghan sovereignty and international law.

    Russia said more than a tonne of heroin and opium, with a street value of $250m (£157m), was destroyed in the raid.

    Officials in Moscow have in the past accused coalition forces in Afghanistan of doing little to tackle drugs, and thereby helping to sustain the estimated 2.5 million heroin addicts in Russia.

    'No authorisation'

    On Friday, the head of Russia's drug control agency said its agents had taken part in an operation on Thursday to destroy a "major hub" of drug production about 5km (three miles) from the Pakistani border, near the city of Jalalabad.

    Viktor Ivanov said that along with 932kg (2,055lb) of high-grade heroin and 156kg (345lb) of opium, a large amount of technical equipment was destroyed.

    But in a strongly worded statement on Saturday, President Karzai's office alleged that Russian military personnel had taken part in the "illegal" raid.

    "While Afghanistan remains committed to its joint efforts with the international community against narcotics, it also makes it clear that no organisation or institution shall have the right to carry out such a military operation without prior authorisation and consent of the government of Afghanistan," it said.

    "Such unilateral operations are a clear violation of Afghan sovereignty as well as international law, and any repetition will be met by the required reaction from our side," the statement added.

    Mr Karzai said Afghanistan wanted friendly ties with Moscow, but that the relationship had to be based on mutual consent.

    The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says Afghanistan's elite counter narcotics force did participate in the operation but it appears that the president's office was not informed of who would accompany them.

    Afghanistan's interior ministry said it thought that only Russian observers rather than Russian troops were to take part, our correspondent adds.

    The president's national security adviser, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, said Nato officials had apologised in private but that he wanted a public declaration.

    Earlier, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said it had killed at least 19 Taliban fighters who tried to storm a combat outpost in the eastern province of Paktika under cover of darkness.

    The militants attacked from all directions, using rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, it added. Troops at the camp had to call in air support to repel the assault.

    Five coalition soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

    BBC News - Afghan President Karzai criticises US-Russia drugs raid
    Looks like they hit Karzai's personal stash.
    Cow is the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it.
    -Rekha Arya, Former Minister of Animal Husbandry

  • #2
    Tronic, et al,

    More likely his brother.
    Originally posted by Tronic View Post
    Looks like they hit Karzai's personal stash.
    (COMMENT)

    This breaks my heart, but I know this is going to be a nightmare for the Embassy.

    Most Respectfully,
    R

    Comment


    • #3
      Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticised the first joint operation by Russian and US agents to destroy drug laboratories in his country.
      what a surprise. according to Russian anti-drug agency only 4 Russian advisors took part in the operation, and their participation was agreed by Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan.
      Last edited by Zampolit; 31 Oct 10,, 21:09.

      Comment


      • #4
        It sounds like the bulk of the opium had already been manufactured into Heroin, had they waited for Karzai's consent, the Heroin probably would have already been shipped and it would have been nearly impossible to stop it all from reaching the streets. IMO This is the kind of situation that lead the US to go into their country in the first place (sheltering international criminals from justice), IMO exporting Heroin on that level is a form of chemical warfare against the countries that receive the shipments. IMO Karzai should have remained silent about this failure of his own government to address these crimes.
        Last edited by USSWisconsin; 31 Oct 10,, 22:52.
        sigpic"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees.
        If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children."

        Comment


        • #5
          IMO, A win/win for the two. The US denies the insurgency a valuble source of cash, and the heroin does not reach Russian streets nor her satellites. Benefitting both countries. Karzai will just have to take one for his own team this time.
          Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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