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Fatal clash with tribes poppies { May 2 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-5-2003_pg7_46 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-5-2003_pg7_46 Friday, May 02, 2003 FC man killed in clash with tribes over poppy ISLAMABAD: One Frontier Corps (FC) man was killed when tribesmen in Pakistan’s south-western province of Balochistan, on the border with Afghanistan, opened fire on paramilitary troops trying to destroy their poppy fields, Brig Sikander Ali of Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Division told journalists here, saying: “the clash took place on 26 April.” “We know these tribesmen have these types of weapons due to their location and proximity to the border,” he said. The incident took place in the Pinakai Valley in Gulistan district. Local newspapers reported that weapons such as Kalashnikov rifles, mortars and rocket launchers were used. The poppy eradication campaign, which started on April 15, was concentrated in Qila Abdullah, 70 kilometres from Quetta, where about 90 percent crop was growing. “Obviously there will be resistance, but we are taking this matter seriously and we have to eradicate the fields,” Brig Ali pledged. Haji Wali Muhammad, a tribal elder, told IRIN from Gulistan that farmers in the region turned to poppy cultivation because of a lack of infrastructure and a dearth of national or international assistance. “There are no schools; the hospital is not working and drought has destroyed our orchards,” he said. “A severe drought for the past few years has hit the local fruit orchards,” Mr Muhammad maintained. He said most of the farmers were willing to destroy their opium crop provided they received assistance in return. So far the authorities have destroyed 1,100 acres of poppy fields. “These are approximate figures, as this is also the first time that poppy has been reported to be growing in this province,” he observed. Afghanistan is currently the largest producer of opium in the world, with 70 percent of the opium and heroin reaching European markets originating from it, despite the fact that the Taliban had banned opium production fairly successfully. According to estimates, there were around 79,000 hectares of opium-poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2002. —IRIN

Afghan drug trade Afghan heroin is flooding to the united states { January 1 2007 } Afghan military tied to drug trade { September 4 2003 } Afghan opium 2005 threat to world stability Afghan poppies sprout again { November 10 2003 } Afghan poppy profits going to taliban { April 2007 } Afghanistan soaring drug trade hits home { March 13 2008 } Afghistan opium 2007 reaches record levels { March 5 2007 } Britain losing afghan opium war Bumper year for afghan poppies { July 24 2003 } Fatal clash with tribes poppies { May 2 2003 } General sees drugs link with alqaeda Karzai blames west for afghan poppies { May 23 2005 } Massive post war Officials say poppies undermine democracy { April 2 2004 } Opium crop prices soar Opium dealers blamed for attack on afghan vp Opium freedom Opium funding 40perc of taliban { October 18 2007 } Opium harvest record level in afghanistan { September 3 2006 } Opium msnbc Poppies poised comback { November 23 2001 } Poppy farms rebound { November 23 2001 } Poppy planting Terror link to booming afghan drugs trade { April 3 2004 } Un warns opium production spreading like cancer { October 30 2003 } US arrests afghan heroin baron bashir noorzai { April 25 2005 } Us soldiers becoming drug addicts US soldiers in afghanistan using heroin Files Listed: 29

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