United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has expressed concern over resurgence of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan saying incumbent Karazi Government should do more to control opium production and export of drug to other countries. The UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa was addressing a joint press conference alongwith Minister for Narcotics Control, Ghaus Bux Mahar here on Thursday to brief the media about the re-emergence of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal belt. He said that Pakistan has 2500-km long porous border with Afghanistan and import of opium and drugs to Pakistan's NWFP tribal areas is easy so that we have decided to assist government of Pakistan to protect the menace.
Costa also said that he had several meetings with Pakistani officials including President Musharraf, Interior Minister, Aftab Sherpao and Karachi port authorities in which it was discussed that what measures should be adopted to reduce importation of chemical used in heroin production and expected export of narcotics to European countries.
In response to a question, Executive Director of the UN Drug body while responding to a query said it was a common misperception that Taleban militia had controlled the opium production during its regime in 90s.
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