Daily Anis, Jan 31, editorial

Wiser measures needed for successful Counter Narcotics Campaign
No one can accept that Counter Narcotics Campaign in Afghanistan had any progress.
Even in the Northern Afghanistan, it did not have great achievements.
Authorities in Balkh Province are, in various ways, trying to convince government that Hashish cannot be included in narcotics. Doing this, they want to make everyone accept that Balkh is a narcotics -free province.
Last year, poppy cultivation in Afghanistan reached 8200 tons, which was also a record level like the previous year.
The Afghan government declared 13 provinces devoid of poppy cultivation; but even so, poppy cultivators in Afghanistan were able to produce 95% of poppy in the world.
The Helmand Province, where the UK led troops commanded 8100 soldiers, produced 4200 tons of poppy- 50 % of all the quantity produced all over Afghanistan.
Not only did the British soldiers let the cultivators do whatever they want, but they also financed the Taliban.
Many people attribute the increase in poppy cultivation to the weak performance of the UK soldiers. Even President Karzai directly said the interferences of the foreign force in the affairs of Helmand province was a reason for intensification of insecurity in that province.
Rumors say that the UK is doing business with Afghan narcotics, which is a source of differences between the United States and UK. Others say Americans too are making money, taking the advantage of the situation.
One more fact: poppy cultivation makes 40 % of the income gained by the private sector. What will be the conditions of the poor if the country loses this income?
An effective item in Counter Narcotics Campaign can be changing people’s agricultural activities by changing their minds. A few slogans can never put an end to poppy cultivation.