Press Releases 2006
Visit of Director John Walters, Office of National Drug Control Policy
December 9, 2006
KABUL - John Walters, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy visited Kabul, Afghanistan from December 7 - 10, 2006. Mr. Walters discussed counter-narcotics issues with senior Afghan and international military officials, including President Hamid Karzai.
In his meeting with President Karzai, Mr. Walters discussed U.S. - Afghan cooperation on curbing opium production and drug trafficking in the region. The President and Director Walters noted that Afghanistan produced 90% of the world's illicit opium in 2006 and agreed that Afghanistan risks becoming a narco-state if it does not take giant steps towards eliminating poppy cultivation. Mr. Walters pledged ongoing U.S. support for counter-narcotics programs in Afghanistan.
With Minister of Interior Zarar Muqbel and Minister of Counter Narcotics Habibullah Qaderi, the ONDCP Director discussed U.S. assistance for the ministries' counter-narcotics efforts. Mr. Walters praised the Interior Ministry's success in developing the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan and its National Interdiction Unit, and he said that he hoped to see the units develop more arrests against high-value drug traffickers.
Director Walters and Minister Qaderi discussed Afghanistan's National Drug Control Strategy. The comprehensive strategy is moving into its implementation phase, and Mr. Walters encouraged the minister to initiate a broad and effective eradication campaign across all of Afghanistan in 2007. Poppy farmers are breaking the law and placing their country in jeopardy, he said, and they need to understand that the government will destroy their illicit crops.
Director Walters noted that "Counter-narcotics work in Afghanistan is at the heart of the country's reconstruction and development efforts. The United States will continue to assist Afghanistan to eliminate its dependence on illicit poppy cultivation. We cannot fail in this mission. Proceeds from opium production feed the insurgency and burden Afghanistan's nascent political institutions with the scourge of corruption. This is a long-term challenge, but I am confident that Afghanistan, with the help of its international partners, will beat back the illegal drug producers and traffickers and will develop a transparent economy that embraces the rule of law and provides legal livelihoods for all Afghans."