Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan strengthen counter-narcotics cooperation
IRNA – Senior drug control officials from the Islamic Republics of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be meeting in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss joint counter narcotics enforcement plans
The actions under the auspices of the Triangular Initiative brokered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will be among major issues to be discussed in the meeting, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here said.
The meeting is part of a series of gatherings of senior officials of the three countries aimed at discussing existing drug trafficking threats, regional counter-narcotic strategies and operational means to improve trilateral cooperation. Issues under discussion will include ways to enhance information and intelligence on drug trafficking and increase joint operations.
Launched in 2007 by UNODC, the Triangular Initiative provides a forum for dialogue and trust building amongst the three countries with the objective of strengthening result-oriented counter narcotic cooperation. Ever since, the three countries have been exchanging information and intelligence and have carried out several joint operations against drug trafficking networks operating in the region, which have resulted in the seizure of almost six metric tons of illicit drugs and the arrest of many drug traffickers.
The Triangular Initiative has been praised by the international community as a promising example of regional counter-narcotics enforcement cooperation. Member states of the United Nations Commission of Narcotic Drugs have in several occasions recognized its importance as a regional solution to curb the scourge of drug trafficking.
The three countries are under attack from criminal groups that are smuggling drugs out of Afghanistan and trafficking precursor chemicals into the country. This trans-national threat creates regional instability and poses a serious health hazard to the region and beyond. It requires a cooperative solution based on the principle of common and shared responsibility, which the Triangular Initiative seeks to foster.
The actions under the auspices of the Triangular Initiative brokered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will be among major issues to be discussed in the meeting, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here said.
The meeting is part of a series of gatherings of senior officials of the three countries aimed at discussing existing drug trafficking threats, regional counter-narcotic strategies and operational means to improve trilateral cooperation. Issues under discussion will include ways to enhance information and intelligence on drug trafficking and increase joint operations.
Launched in 2007 by UNODC, the Triangular Initiative provides a forum for dialogue and trust building amongst the three countries with the objective of strengthening result-oriented counter narcotic cooperation. Ever since, the three countries have been exchanging information and intelligence and have carried out several joint operations against drug trafficking networks operating in the region, which have resulted in the seizure of almost six metric tons of illicit drugs and the arrest of many drug traffickers.
The Triangular Initiative has been praised by the international community as a promising example of regional counter-narcotics enforcement cooperation. Member states of the United Nations Commission of Narcotic Drugs have in several occasions recognized its importance as a regional solution to curb the scourge of drug trafficking.
The three countries are under attack from criminal groups that are smuggling drugs out of Afghanistan and trafficking precursor chemicals into the country. This trans-national threat creates regional instability and poses a serious health hazard to the region and beyond. It requires a cooperative solution based on the principle of common and shared responsibility, which the Triangular Initiative seeks to foster.