A New Approach to Counter Narcotics Strategy in South Asia
Abstract
Following the establishment of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) in 2002, the U.S. and its allies sought to defeat terrorists with a drug problem. Sixteen years later those same forces now face a global narcotics network that funds multiple insurgent and terrorist organizations. Afghanistan produces 87% of illicit global opium and, is heading into uncharted territory, according to Fedotov. A record high 2017 opium harvest, 63% greater than 2016's, reflects the failure of 17 years of counter narcotics policy. The UNODC reports that this will have local, regional and global ramifications. Locally, the United States (US) and North American Treaty Organization International Security Assistance Force (NATO-ISAF) strategy in Afghanistan suffer setbacks as the massive expansion of the drug trade fuels a resurgent Taliban. This expansion increases corruption within government, and further cements the economy's dependency on illicit trade. Regionally, drug trafficking is a growing source of instability in an already fragile area. Globally, the drug trade funds numerous criminal enterprises and burgeoning terrorist organizations
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1062178
Entities
People
- Sean P. Dynan
Organizations
- Naval War College