| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| Karzai fires governor of Helmand province |
| 2008-03-02 |
| THE governor of volatile Helmand province was removed from his post last night after a year of record opium production and insurgency-related violence in the province. Asadullah Wafa, who was appointed in December 2006 in hope that he would be able to stabilise the province, said president Hamid Karzai issued a decree on Friday releasing him from the post. His removal leaves the country's key area in the battle against insurgents and narcotics without direct government representation, and comes after a series of confrontations between Wafa and British officials over counterinsurgency strategy and the crackdown on drug production. Wafa claimed that he wanted to be removed from his post and complained that he was dissatisfied with poppy eradication forces working in the province. His successor has not yet been announced. Wafa will continue as the ministerial adviser for tribal affairs. Afghanistan last year produced 93 per cent of the world's opium, the main ingredient in heroin, and Helmand produced more than 50 per cent of the country's opium. More than 80 per cent of the province's farmers are involved in the opium trade. Helmand is where most of the 7,800 British soldiers in Afghanistan are based. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |