Close X
Thursday, December 12, 2024
ADVT 
International

US includes India among 22 major illicit drug producers

Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Sep, 2014 08:45 AM
    President Barack Obama has identified India among 22 major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit countries that "significantly affect the United States" and asked it to support Afghanistan's counter-narcotics efforts.
     
     
    Of these 22, three countries -- Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela -- "failed demonstrably" during the last 12 months to fulfill their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and conventions, he said in a memo to the secretary of state.
     
    Such a designation can lead to sanctions. But the president granted Burma and Venezuela National Interest Waivers under the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act (FRAA) as he determined that support for programmes to aid these countries remained vital to the national interests of the US.
     
    Besides India, other countries on the list were: Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
     
    A country's presence on the list does not necessarily reflect its counternarcotics efforts or its level of cooperation with the US on illegal drug control, the State Department clarified.
     
    The designation can reflect a combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to be produced and/or trafficked through a country, it said.
     
    The presidential memo also noted that opium poppy trade in Afghanistan threatens domestic institutions, subverts the legal economy, and undermines good governance and the capacity of the Afghan people.
     
    US support for Afghanistan after 2014 would focus on maintaining established infrastructure and improving security, it said.
     
    The US is also working to secure more bilateral and multilateral assistance from the international community beyond programmes that are already in place.
     
    At the same time, it is in the best interest of countries in the region with high levels of opium-product abuse to support Afghanistan's counter-narcotics efforts, the memo said.
     
    This includes Afghanistan's immediate neighbours -- Iran, Pakistan, and Russia -- as well as other nations such as India and China.
     
    There is also an increase in transshipments of Afghanistan heroin going to Canada, a development of concern that is being addressed by Canada with support from the US, the memo noted.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues
    Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi Saturday said his meeting with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry focused on means to face...

    Kerry, Arab League chief discuss terrorism, regional issues

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India
    The Australian High Commission Friday hailed the recent return to India of two 11th century idols from Tamil Nadu.

    Australia hails return of 11th century idols to India

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby
    Facebook has apologised to a father after rejecting his advertisement on the social networking site asking people to donate money for his two-month-old son's heart transplant....

    Facebook sorry after rejecting dad's ad to help baby

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS
    From scepticism to support, there were mixed reactions from key stakeholders Thursday to US President Barack Obama's announcement of sweeping...

    Mixed reactions to Obama's strategy to tackle IS

    Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of murder

    A court in South Africa Thursday found paralympian Oscar Pistorius "not guilty" of premeditated murder or murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, a case...

    Oscar Pistorius found not guilty of murder

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS
    Turkey is not eager to allow a US-led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to launch attacks on militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group in neighbouring...

    Turkey reluctant to allow US use its airbase against IS