Afghan President Hamid Karzai's participation in the annual
meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) last week
not only demonstrated the openness of the grouping, but was also
significant in terms of stepping up the regional fight against
drugs.
His presence showed that, in addition to the "three threats" of
terrorism, separatism and extremism, cross-border drugs crime is a
major concern of SCO member states.
During the summit, Karzai and SCO member states vowed to
strengthen co-operation in fighting drug trafficking.
Afghanistan has been a major source of drugs.
The country's booming drug trade accounts for a significant part
of its national income. Surveys by the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime show that Afghanistan is now the world's largest
source of heroin.
Cultivation of the opium poppy in Afghanistan, from which most
of the world's heroin is refined, jumped by more than 60 percent
last year.
The UN surveys warn that the growing influence of the country's
drugs mafia could pose a major threat to its national security.
As Afghanistan shares common borders with several Central Asian
countries, the region has become a crucial transit route for drug
smugglers traveling from Afghanistan to Europe and other parts of
the world.
The fact that all SCO member states are victims of drug
trafficking, which not only involves money laundering and weapons
smuggling but also generates cash for terrorists and extremists,
adds to the necessity and significance of greater collaboration in
this respect.
To face this common threat, the SCO signed a co-operation
agreement against drug trafficking of narcotics in 2004, and
assisted the Afghan Government's anti-drugs campaign by setting up
a liaison group with the country last year.
The SCO promised to actively take part in establishing an
"anti-drugs zone" around Afghanistan and assist its economic
reconstruction to rein in the country's narcotics trade.
This is a campaign which can address imperative needs and bring
genuine benefits, therefore it should remain a long-term focus of
regional co-operation.
These joint efforts of SCO members speak volumes about their
willingness and ability to work for common interests which will in
turn ensure security throughout the region.
(China Daily June 19, 2006)
