Three-nation Counter-narco Authorities Agreed To Further Strengthen Border Liaison Offices

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to find solutions to common challenges by adhering to a comprehensive and balanced approach regarding drug trafficking.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2018 ) :Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to find solutions to common challenges by adhering to a comprehensive and balanced approach regarding drug trafficking.

This was decided in an interaction between counter-narcotics authorities at the concluding session of two-day tripartite event titled '13th Triangular Initiative of Senior Officials' hosted by Ministry of Narcotics Control here Thursday. They agreed on various regional cooperation mechanisms which included enhancement of regional response through information-sharing and planning and conducting drug-interdiction operations. The three sides also agreed regarding establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs).

During the meeting, the three sides agreed, inter-alia, to strengthen BLOs, plan and conduct more simultaneous patrolling operations and intelligence-led interdiction operations. The event brought together counter-narcotics partners from three neighboring countries to discuss ways and meansfor strengthening cooperation against the trafficking of Afghan opiates.

Secretary Narcotics Control, Arif Nawaz Khan chaired the meeting with representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Pakistan, Mr. Cesar Guedes as co-chair.

The senior officials expressed interest to utilize each others counter-narcotics training academies to ensure better understanding and coordination. "We believe strengthening of regional partnership against massive flow of illicit drugs in region, within framework of this strategic collaborative process, can serve as a conduit for saving lives and improving their quality," noted Mr.

Cesar Guedes in his opening remarks.

Arif Nawaz Khan thanked UNODC Country Office Pakistan for bringing together Triangular Initiative Member States through this senior officials meeting. It was really heartening for the government of Pakistan to welcome regional partners on counter-narcotics. This close interaction has helped in finding workable solutions to our common challenges, he said at closing ceremony.

Director General, Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Major General Muhammad Arif Malik headed Pakistan's delegation while delegations of Afghanistan and Iran were led by their respective Director Generals. The Representative of UNODC Country Office Iran, and Head UNODC Regional Programme Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries were amongst prominent UNODC delegates.

Since its inception in 2007, the UNODC-facilitated Triangular Initiative forum has served as a cornerstone of regional approach to drug control.

It is supported by Paris Pact Initiative and its Rainbow Strategy for Afghanistan which encompasses a range of programmes designed to reduce poppy cultivation, trafficking, and consumption of drugs.

UNODC offices in three countries provide technical support to respective host governments for implementing their commitments under this counter-narcotics forum.

The three countries have been combating this scourge of illicit drug trafficking over a long period and at great cost. Many law enforcement officials, as well as ordinary citizens, have sacrificed their lives in struggle against drug trafficking.