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| Afghanistan |
| Afghanistan: Security chief confirms MPs' role in drug trade |
| 2008-08-09 |
| (AKI) - Abdollah Loghmani, deputy chief of Afghanistan's security services, has confirmed recent claims that members of the Vali Jirga, or the lower house of Parliament are involved in drug production and trafficking. Loghmani, who was speaking in Parliament, confirmed the claims made by independent MP Khaled Pashtun and others adding that " the security services have gathered sufficient proof on this suggestion". However, he did not want to supply documentation, considered a state secret, to the parliamentary commission. Concern about the Taliban and the funds it raises from drug trafficking in Afghanistan and other sources abroad is generating widespread debate in the European Parliament. Several European MPs have called on the European Commission and the European Union's Council, its main decision body, to do more to stop the Taliban from trafficking drugs and drawing funds from outside the country. The European Parliament is expected to look at the issue once again in September. Abdollah Loghmani added that the "parliamentarians involved in drug trafficking, are also supporters of terrorist groups that operate in the south of the country". Several MPs called on the government to declassify any proof of the links and make it available to the lower house to help it identify the MPs guilty of trafficking and collaboration with the Taliban. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 i thought the money was billion with a B not millin with an M... either case is unacceptable. |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2008-08-09 17:29 |
| #2 Fascinating. I hope this means the Afghans think they are ready to deal with this themselves. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-08-09 10:04 |
| #1 Senator McCain: you need some distancing from the current Republican administration. Without attacking, you can pose your policy viz the Pashto Opium/Heroin trade. Silence will be seen as consent to an unworkable policy. Common sense dictates that it is suicidal to allow $100 to 200 million dollars in drug money to flow to the Taliban each year. Americans are killed in the Summer Offensive because the enemy can purchase effective weaponry. That can be stopped. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-08-09 02:43 |