Karzai reacts to U.S.-Russia drug operation

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has demanded an explanation from NATO's command in Afghanistan for a counternarcotics raid, RFE/RL reports. He said it was carried out by the United States and Russia without his government's permission. Karzai reacts to U.S.-Russia drug operation He said the operation was "a blatant violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and of international laws," adding, "Any repetition of such acts will prompt necessary reaction by our country." The demand comes after Moscow's senior drug-control official, Viktor Ivanov, said on October 29 that Russia and the United States had destroyed four drug laboratories in their first joint antidrug operation in Afghanistan. Ivanov said the raid in the Shinwar district of the eastern province of Nangarhar netted more than a ton of heroin and morphine worth $250 million, as well as equipment. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said on October 29 that three branches of Afghan law enforcement were also present at the October 28 raid. Russia frequently criticizes what it describes as the inadequate counternarcotics policies of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, saying they lead to an increased flow of drugs into Russia through Central Asia. Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of world's opium, from which heroin is derived.

Karzai reacts to U.S.-Russia drug operation

He said the operation was "a blatant violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and of international laws," adding, "Any repetition of such acts will prompt necessary reaction by our country."

The demand comes after Moscow's senior drug-control official, Viktor Ivanov, said on October 29 that Russia and the United States had destroyed four drug laboratories in their first joint antidrug operation in Afghanistan.

Ivanov said the raid in the Shinwar district of the eastern province of Nangarhar netted more than a ton of heroin and morphine worth $250 million, as well as equipment.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said on October 29 that three branches of Afghan law enforcement were also present at the October 28 raid.

Russia frequently criticizes what it describes as the inadequate counternarcotics policies of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, saying they lead to an increased flow of drugs into Russia through Central Asia.

Afghanistan produces more than 90 percent of world's opium, from which heroin is derived.