Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jul 2004
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2004 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893

PAK-IRAN-AFGHAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS CURBING DRUGS

ISLAMABAD: Senior anti-narcotics officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and 
Iran opened a two-day meeting in Islamabad on Monday to focus on the ways 
of curbing the ongoing drug trafficking in the region.

Elements required for the development of a 'Drug Law Enforcement Programme' 
between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, under the sponsorship of the United 
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were discussed in the meeting.

The possibility of extending the Memorandum of Understanding signed between 
Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan was also discussed. It was agreed that 
designated points of contact or Drug Liaison officers will be appointed in 
respective embassies of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. The meeting also 
discussed the training of Afghan Drug Law Enforcement officers in Pakistan 
and Iran under the UNODC's sponsorship.

The Inter-Government Technical Committee (IGTC) meeting was organised by 
the Anti-Narcotics Force in collaboration with the UNODC. A nine-member 
Iranian delegation was headed by Dr Ali Hashim, vice president and 
secretary general of the Drug Control Headquarters Iran, while the Afghan 
delegation was headed by Mirwais Yesine, director general of the Narcotics 
Control Division Afghanistan.

The IGTC meeting is held alternately in Islamabad and Tehran each year. 
This was the fourth such meeting in which Afghanistan was invited.

Pakistan was represented by Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed, secretary of the minister 
for narcotics force, HQrs ANF Director Brig Dikandar Ali, the director 
general of the Coast Guards and the director general of the Maritime 
Security Agency. NNI
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