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Noor says he has no intentions to prevent narcotics cultivation in Balkh
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The acting provincial governor of northern Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor has said he has no intentions to prevent the cultivation and trade of opium in this province.Noor who is leading Jamaat-e-Islami party, harshly criticized the way funds were spent on counter-narcotics campaigns in Afghanistan, saying he will not taken any actions in areas under his control. He said the international community has spent over $7.8 billion to prevent the cultivation and smuggle of opium in the country over a period of ten years. However, there's no worse danger than telling a mother her baby is ugly... Noor claimed only $7 million of the grants have been spent in the country to destroy opium fields and prevent cultivation and smuggle of drugs. "$7.8 billion has been spent and we should be clarified on how and where the funds have been allocated. What has been done for us? Annually, $7 million has been given which is equivalent to $7 million, taking into account the 7 years period. Nearly $8 billion has been allocated and it should be accounted for to ascertain in which parts of Afghanistan the funds have been spent," Noor was quoted as saying in a report by Radio Free Europe. Noor has also claimed that the remaining funds have fallen into the hands of the Mafia members who are expanding the cultivation and smuggle of opium in the country, insisting that the majority of the opium were cultivated in southern provinces where coalition forces were also stationed. Noor also added that he was accused of having role in opium cultivation and smuggle after he tried to prevent smuggle of drugs from Kandahar airfield. Posted by: Fred 2016-03-18 |
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