RIC troika calls for clamp down on spread of heroin from Afghanistan

Yekatarinburg (Russia), May 15 : Raising concerns over the illicit drugs trade going on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the Russia-India-China troika in the joint communique has called for the creation of a security belt around Afghanistan to halt the spread of heroin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not elaborate on the shape of the security belt, but he added that the three large developing countries would look at enhanced co-operation on humanitarian aid, fighting terrorism and combating drug trafficking.

Referring to Pakistan, Lavrov said all the countries involved should come forward to solve this problem.

Around 90 percent of the global supply of heroin emanates in Afghanistan, with output increasing since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

Earlier, talking tough on the issue of terrorism, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told his Russian and Chinese counterparts here that there can be no justification for any terrorist acts, and added that there should be zero tolerance towards this menace.

He also put forth the concern over the thriving drug trade in the neighbourhood and also discussed on how the money generated from the drug trade is strengthening terrorist outfits. By Naveen Kapoor

ANI