Interior Minister: Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan Jointly Fight Drug-traffickers

Tehran, Oct 23, IRNA - Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have to jointly fight drug-traffickers and transit of narcotics in the region. He made the remarks in a meeting with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program Helen Clark. Fight against drug-trafficking should be made through coordination and collective assistance of the countries in the region and the international community, he said. The Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are planning to fight drug trafficking and transit of narcotics by conducting joint operations, he said. Expressing regret over lack of contribution and cooperation among world countries to the campaign, he said that to attain the goal an international determination is required. The interior minister said that the international community should fulfill commitment to thwart the hazards of narcotics devastating life of the young population. Iran has strongly dealt with drug-trafficking and built barriers to blockade the routes of drug trafficking, he said. Iran has suffered many losses in its campaign against drug trafficking but the international community paid less attention and support to this end, he said. Iran with contribution of people-oriented organizations, NGOs and the private sector has established modern healthcare centers, said the minister. He said that Iran is ready to help Afghanistan replace poppy cultivation, requiring collective contribution of international and global organizations to help the Afghan nation lead a healthy, useful and better lifestyle. the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, for her part, said Iran possesses invaluable experience in dealing with disasters and is ready to transfer its experience in the field to other countries. Lauding the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran in fight against drug trafficking as well as transit of narcotics to other countries, she said thaat other countries should change approach and help Iran in its fight against drug trafficking. The international community should be thankful to Iran for the losses incurred in the campaign against drug trafficking, she said. She called for benefiting from Iranian experience in the fight against drug traffickers./end