Karzai slates US-Russia drugs operation
Sunday, 31 October 2010
KABUL, Oct 30 (AFP): Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday demanded an explanation from NATO's command in Afghanistan for a drugs raid carried out by the United States and Russia without his government's permission.
"No organisation or institution has the right to carry out such military operations inside the territory of our country without permission and agreement from the Islamic Government of Afghanistan," a statement from his office said.
"Afghanistan condemns this act by NATO and announces that such unilateral operations are a clear violation of Afghan sovereignty as well as international law, and any repetition will be met by the required reaction from our side."
The statement said Karzai had ordered an investigation by the ministries of defence and interior, to report back to him by Saturday night.
Moscow's senior drugs control official said on Friday that Russia and the United States had destroyed four drug laboratories in their first joint anti-drug operation in Afghanistan.
The raid netted more than a tonne of heroin and morphine worth 250 million dollars, as well as equipment, Viktor Ivanov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
The report said Afghan interior ministry officials had been involved in the operation.
Russia frequently criticises what it describes as the inadequate anti-drug policies of United States and NATO forces in Afghanistan, leading to an increased flow of drugs into Russia through Central Asia.
"No organisation or institution has the right to carry out such military operations inside the territory of our country without permission and agreement from the Islamic Government of Afghanistan," a statement from his office said.
"Afghanistan condemns this act by NATO and announces that such unilateral operations are a clear violation of Afghan sovereignty as well as international law, and any repetition will be met by the required reaction from our side."
The statement said Karzai had ordered an investigation by the ministries of defence and interior, to report back to him by Saturday night.
Moscow's senior drugs control official said on Friday that Russia and the United States had destroyed four drug laboratories in their first joint anti-drug operation in Afghanistan.
The raid netted more than a tonne of heroin and morphine worth 250 million dollars, as well as equipment, Viktor Ivanov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
The report said Afghan interior ministry officials had been involved in the operation.
Russia frequently criticises what it describes as the inadequate anti-drug policies of United States and NATO forces in Afghanistan, leading to an increased flow of drugs into Russia through Central Asia.