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Afghan-US Forces Launch Operation to Eliminate Processing Centers of Drugs
Afghan security forces backed by the U.S. forces launched special operations last night to eliminate the processing centers of drugs in the country.
At the beginning phase, these operations are mostly focused on some targets in Helmand province, mainly those processing centers located in Sangin, Musa Qala, Kajaki, and Nawzad districts.
Eight major drug processing centers were targeted and eliminated in a series of airstrikes conducted last night, November 19.
Opium cultivation and drug trafficking are said to be the most lucrative sources for the Taliban which fuels their strong resurgence against Afghan forces and its international allies.
However, Afghan government says that counter-narcotic campaign is one of its strategic objectives.
Most of the southern Helmand province is reportedly under the Taliban control and produces a huge amount of world’s opium.
NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
The U.S. Commander of International Forces, Gen. John Nicholson on Monday at joint press conference with Afghan Chief of Army Staff said that narcotics remain largest source of revenue for the Taliban.
Nicholson said the Taliban earn more than $200 million annually from drug trafficking. “They fight so that they can keep profiting from narcotics trade and other criminal activities,” he said.
Opium production in Afghanistan reached record highs this year, up 87 percent on last year, according to the United Nations recent estimation. Helmand suffers heavy fighting and is the single-largest producer of opium.
“Last night we conducted strikes in northern Helmand to hit the Taliban where it hurts, in their narcotics financing,” he said.
The commander added that the attacks were part of U.S. new policy towards Afghanistan as the country boosts its troop numbers.
Afghan Chief of Army Staff, Mohammad Sharif Yaftali said that the government will continue to conduct operations against the Taliban and other militant groups in winter season.
“In the winter season, the focus will be on elimination of the Taliban’s leadership and their equipment and income sources,” he said.
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Mullah Baradar discusses creation of railway with Kazakh deputy PM
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs has met with Erik Zhumangarin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, and discussed the establishment of a railway network from Kazakhstan to Pakistan through Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, the deputy PM’s office said in a statement.
During the meeting, Baradar emphasized the need to sign agreements to solve the banking problems of traders from both countries, the creation of Afghan-Kazakh joint companies, and the facilitation of visas for Afghan traders.
According to the statement, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan said that the Kazakh government intends to establish a joint chamber of industry and commerce and a joint trade and labor group between the two countries, and is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in the sectors of e-governance, industry, higher education, education, health, and banking.
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Iran, Pakistan leaders raise concerns over ‘terrorist groups’ in Afghanistan
Following a two-day official visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a joint statement emphasizing the need to further expand commercial and economic cooperation and transform the common border of the two countries from a “border of peace” to “border of prosperity”.
The two leaders also strongly condemned aggressions and crimes of Israel in Gaza, and demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as unimpeded humanitarian access to the besieged people of Gaza.
Numerous other issues were also discussed but on the topic of Afghanistan, they jointly declared their commitment to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, independent country free from the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.
According to the statement the two countries pointed out that the existence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan is a serious threat to the security of the region and the world.
The two sides stressed their desire to strengthen cooperation in the field of fighting terrorism and ensuring security and creating a united front against terrorism.
They also discussed the importance of coordinating regional and international efforts to ensure security and stability in the region.
“While respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the two sides recognized that increasing participation of all strata of Afghans in basic decision-making will lead to the strengthening of peace and stability in this country,” the statement read.
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Over 1,000 Afghan refugees forced out of Pakistan in one day
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations (MoRR) says over 1,000 Afghan migrants were forcibly returned from Pakistan on Tuesday through Spin Boldak border crossing in Kandahar province, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stated that based on information provided by the Spin Boldak Kandahar border command, these returnees comprised 191 families, totalling 998 people.
In addition, three migrants released from Pakistani prisons were also returned, according to the statement.
The statement added that after registering the returnees, the refugees were referred to the offices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Each family received 10,000 afghanis – paid to them by the Islamic Emirate.
In another statement, the ministry said that 2,783 migrants living in Iran voluntarily and forcibly returned to the country during this week.
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