Developing Countries: Drugs

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received following the meeting between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and senior officials from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan; and what steps the UK is taking to increase participation between these partners to stop drug trafficking along their common borders.

Dr. Howells
We await the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report following the meeting between the UNODC and senior officials from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan which took place on 12 June.

The UK is keen to encourage increased participation between these partners to stop drug trafficking along their common borders. We encourage regional co-operation between Afghanistan and her neighbours as part of our commitment to supporting the Government of Afghanistan to deliver their National Drugs Control Strategy. This is undertaken through either bilateral or multilateral mechanisms through UNODC. Bilaterally, our missions in Islamabad, Tehran and Kabul help to facilitate better working level contacts and information sharing between these countries to take forward regional practical assistance, including improved border control. We also provide support to the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration meetings to encourage Afghanistan's neighbours to engage in the drugs process. We support UN capacity building projects which foster greater links between regional law enforcement agencies to exchange information on drug trafficking and strengthen Afghanistan's borders.