Afghanistan is by far the biggest producer of narcotic drugs.
Developments in the past two centuries are a major cause for concern to the
international communiy. By building a secure state with an viable government,
the international community can try to break through the cycle of the drug
economy.
The current interim administration under president Karzai is not able to
provide a secure environment, a legal economy or the implementation of the rule
of law. Consequently, an unstable Afghanistan with a flourishing drug economy -
which constitutes the major income source for terrorist - threatens
international security. The inexorable production of narcotic drugs and the
existence of corruption that runs through all political ranks hinders the
establishment of a strong government.
The Karzai administration is aware of the dangerous impact the drug
industry has on the development and future of the Afghan state. Therefore, it
is actively participating in the fight by introducing national projects, which
are being carried out with the assistance of international partners. In
addition to three UN anti-drug conventions that Afghanistan has signed, the
international community intends to combat drug production on the basis of
various regional and international agreements. The Bonn Agreement (2001) as
well as the Afghanistan Compact (2006) provide the framework for all
international efforts. Measures included therein focus on the reform of the
security and justice sector as well as on proposals for alternative
livelihoods. The introduction of alternative sources of income plays a vital
role in the fight against drug production, giving farmers dependent on
cultivation a chance to familiarize themselves with the production of legal
agricultural products. Putting an end to the drug economy - especially in the
next five years as outlined in the Afghanistan Compact - will not be a
realizable goal. To successfully fight the drug economy an international,
long-term commitment is required.
This paper was written in German for the University of Bonn.
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