Simultaneous with the kicking off of the first air operations of NATO forces for elimination of income sources of terrorists, particularly drugs processing and production center in Afghanistan, NATO senior authorities said that based on their new strategy, they would be striking terrorists income sources hereafter, like reported by thekabultimes.gov.af.
The NATO first air strikes for destroying drugs processing and production centers was started on Monday night in Helmand province and these operations are expected to be continued till complete annihilation of these centers. Touching the joint operation of ANSF and NATO, the presidential office said that the first operation for elimination of drugs production and processing centers was started on Monday night with support of RS forces with main focus at the current stage on Sangeen, Musa Qala, Kajaki and Nowzad districts, Helmand province.
Totally eight main drugs processing and production centers were targeted in last night attacks eliminated.
The source added current war is the drugs war. Poppy fields and drugs production centers are basic sources of Taliban and other terrorists groups funding. Drugs elimination campaign is one of the strategic goals of the Afghan government. Drugs have damaged millions people and drew large number of families and youth to the verge of devastation.
The source believes that restoration of peace and stability requires serious war on criminal economy and drugs processing and production without war on criminal economy, ensuring peace and security would be difficult in the country and it plans to destroy all these centers.
At the same time, confirming the commencement of NATO air strikes on these center, RS commander Gen John Nikolson said, based on the US and NATO new strategy, they would hereafter take part in war on drugs too and NATO troops until the end of elimination of terrorists funding sources will continue operations. Calling drugs as a serious threat against Afghanistan and the world security, RS commander said that last night operation was only for elimination of all drugs processing, production and trafficking Labs. We targeted Taliban support origins.
He went on to say that Taliban have resorted to drug trafficking and earn huge income from this source.
He emphasized that lower Taliban insurgents have no bread to eat while their leaders exploiting drug trafficking, are living abroad with huge resources and we want to drain Taliban original income sources and destroy main vein of insurgency in Afghanistan. Drugs are the most beneficial business in the world and nearly 85 pc drugs in the world are produced here in Afghanistan at a cost of US $60b per year out of which only US$ 200m diverted into bank accounts of Taliban leaders.
Gen Nikolson added, Taliban own equipped and sophisticated instruments to change poppy to heroin and this group has been changed to a criminal drug network in the world and beside being a terror threat, Taliban are a drug threat at the world level. NATO forces have used F-22 planes for targeting of these labs which are equipped with modern resources.
They are capable to strike certain targets and don’t damage vicinity of targets and guided weapons have been used in these attacks. Beside F-22, B-52 planes were also used in these operations.
