Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2008, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Graeme Smith NATO UNDERMINING OPIUM FIGHT, KHALID SAYS Lack of support from foreign troops for Afghanistan's poppy-eradication operation costing lives, he says KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- Foreign troops have undermined the Afghan government's poppy-eradication campaign in Kandahar, the governor says, and the lack of support has added to the risks of the operation. At least 13 police have been killed and one reported missing during poppy eradication so far this month, and the task has been more difficult, Governor Asadullah Khalid said, because his NATO allies refuse to help and, in some cases, appear to be blocking the effort. The governor was especially upset about a firefight on the morning of April 6 that killed nine officers in the district of Maywand, west of Kandahar city. He said his office notified the Canadian military three weeks ahead of time that his teams would be visiting certain locations in Maywand to destroy the opium fields. But on the appointed day, he said, NATO troops stationed nearby failed to help his men during an hour-long battle against Taliban fighters. "They didn't help us, even though they were very close," Mr. Khalid said. "We gave them all the plans and programs beforehand. They were informed, and they promised us they will help us if something happens to our police." The foreign troops have been similarly unhelpful in Panjwai district, he said, where NATO soldiers warned his officers that no assistance would be available if they got into trouble. In Zhari district, he said, NATO troops stopped his teams from working. In Maywand, he said, tribal elders were told that the foreign troops are not against opium cultivation. "They said, 'We don't want to make enemies for ourselves,' " Mr. Khalid said. "It's very bad for eradication when you're telling the elders, we are not against your poppy. It means we have different policies." Growing opium is illegal in all parts of Afghanistan, but governors are encouraged to follow the National Drug Control Strategy when conducting their spring eradication programs. The strategy calls for targeted eradication of fields where farmers might be able to grow other crops, in part, to avoid victimizing the poorest farmers, who often suffer more eradication because they cannot pay bribes. "Experts work with over 70 data sets to produce the target maps," said David Belgrove, head of the British counter-narcotics team in Kabul. But governors often stray from the experts' maps as they feel pressure from power brokers or other local influences, observers say. The governor of Helmand province aimed 60 per cent of his eradication at the targeted areas this year, Mr. Belgrove said, while in neighbouring Kandahar, the governor only followed the maps for 8 per cent of his campaign. "We've managed to stay in the target areas in Helmand because we have a good dialogue with the governor and the task force there," Mr. Belgrove said. "Unfortunately, Governor Khalid's eradication has been outside of those areas," he said. "It's very sad that it's been in some insecure areas where it's caused deaths." Canadian troops are usually instructed to avoid interfering with opium cultivation or eradication; Canadian drug policy focuses on alternative livelihoods for farmers. A Canadian military spokesman read a transcript of Mr. Khalid's comments and responded that there isn't any dispute between the Canadians and their counterparts in the local government or the Afghan National Security Forces. "The spirit of co-operation between Canadian forces, Afghan government and ANSF is very strong and there are a growing number of mechanisms in place at the provincial and district level which are leading to ever closer co-operation and co-ordination," said Lieutenant-Commander Pierre Babinsky. "We meet regularly with the governor of Kandahar province on security and other issues." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek