Pubdate: Sat, 19 Feb 2005
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

PAKISTAN NOT POPPY-FREE: US

LAHORE: Karen Tandy, head of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA) has 
said that Pakistan cannot be called a poppy-free country. Talking to a 
private channel, she asked Pakistan's religious leaders to issue fatwas 
(religious decrees) against narcotics. "Narcotics are against the teachings 
of the Holy Quran. Pakistani ulema should give fatwas against narcotics and 
support the anti-narcotic effort," she said.

Ms Tandy said she had handed over a list of drug smugglers to the 
Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF). "The US and the ANF are very strong 
partners in the war against narcotics. They are sharing intelligence to 
stem the flow of poppy and heroin from Afghanistan to Pakistan," she said.

Asked what the US expected from Pakistan in its anti-narcotics war, the US 
official said, "Continuation of a very close collaboration."
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