Experts Criticize Counter-Narcotics Policy In Afghanistan, But Offer No Concrete Solution

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

In an effort to create a politically stable Afghanistan, the United States has attempted to combat the country’s notorious level of opium production with a counter-narcotics policy. However, Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Melon, Mark A.R. Kleiman, a professor of public policy at UCLA, and researcher Jonathan Kulick recently released a report critiquing current policy, saying that the efforts aggravate the Afghan insurgency.

Addiction, corruption, insurgent and terrorist funding have all profited from the drug trade in Afghanistan, according to the report presented at United States Institute for Peace on Tuesday. Although opium production is concentrated to areas labelled as “insecure,” the Taliban is reportedly making millions of dollars from the industry. 

In 2009, the government policy switched focus from the complete eradication of opium crops to an increase in law enforcement and alternative development. 

Caulkins’ analysis critiqued the success of the current administration’s policy, but his report did not provide any alternatives or concrete recommendations for a counter-narcotics policy.

“I’m not an expert on Afghanistan across the board,” said Caulkins.

Caulkins, Kleiman and Kulick had differing opinions, but agreed that counter-narcotics efforts must be augmented and suggested that one solution might be the reorganization of enforcements with targeted areas could make corruption less rewarding and help address the problem.

However, the experts conceded that the issue is complex and that not much can be done as long as a demand for the product remains. 

The report states that even if a solution is found to the drug problem in Afghanistan, the production would be displaced to another country since international demand for opium is so high. Afghanistan currently produces nearly 90% of the world’s opium supply.