Pubdate: Thu, 10 Feb 2005
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/afghanistan

OFFICIAL DENIES U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN AFGHAN OPIUM CROP SPRAYING

KABUL: The US Embassy in Afghanistan said there was no evidence to
support fresh allegations that mystery planes sprayed Afghan opium
poppy crops, amid a bitter row about how to combat the world's largest
illegal narcotics industry.

"There is no credible evidence that spraying has taken place in
Helmand," the embassy said in a statement late Tuesday. "No agency,
personnel or contractors associated with the US government have
conducted or been involved in any such activity in Helmand or any
other province."

Afghan officials said earlier they had sent a team from Kabul to
southern Helmand province, a key opium-producing region, to
investigate a report from the governor that aircraft sprayed fields
there last Thursday. "We of course would like to wait and see what the
details are when that team comes back," presidential spokesman Jawed
Ludin said. "However, I do not have to wait for that report in order
to restate the government's and the president's position (that) we
oppose very strongly the option of air spraying." US officials
preparing a campaign against Afghan drug barons initially pressed for
Colombia-style crop spraying to dent an industry that last year
supplied nearly 90 percent of the world's opium, the raw material for
heroin.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin