Anthony H. Cordesman, 'The Afghan Narcotics Industry: A Summary', Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 12 November 2009
EXCERPT: "Afghanistan has greatly increased its production of opium since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. In 2001 the national production of opium was negligible; however following 2001 it grew exponentially until it reached its peak in 2007, producing quantities of opium that far exceeded the production levels of the past three decades. Some estimates indicate that there has been a decline in production levels of over 1,000 tons since 2001, however opium production still remains high and continues to be a serious security factor in the equation of winning the peace in Afghanistan. The production of opium is outlawed by the government of Afghanistan, and though this law has been respected in many parts of the country which have seen a decline in opium production since 2002, there have been other regions of the country that have significantly increased their production."
Read the full summary [pdf].
Related articles:
'Afghanistan’s war on drugs: Child "chemists" and counternarcotics', The Long War Journal, 10 November 2009
'German Defence Minister calls on Kabul to act on security, drugs', M&C, 10 November 2009
'Poppy Fields in Afghanistan - Op-Ed', World Press, 6 November 2009
'UN report misleading on Afghanistan's drug problem', Foreign Policy in Focus, 5 November 2009
Related posts:
'US to hunt down drug lords tied to Taliban', 10 August 2009
'US reverses Afghan drug policy', 29 June 2009
'War on drugs and war on terror', 25 May 2009
'US sees lessons for Afghan war in Colombia', 26 March 2009
'Upcoming changes to the drug-insurgency nexus', 23 January 2009
