From disengagement to regional opium war?
15 Oct 2012 - 13:27
Towards a counter-narcotics surge in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The security transition process in Afghanistan (2011-2014) could spell disaster for international support to Afghanistan''s counter-narcotics policy, which partly relies on military infrastructure. Without a strong increase in civilian counter-narcotics efforts in the region -- a much needed counter-narcotics surge to prevent international disengagement -- a turf war for control over the illegal opium industry could break out in the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan following a disruption of the illegal opium economy''s power structure after 2014.