Afghanistan, Pak Among 22 Major Drug Producing Nations

US President Barack Obama has identified 22 countries, including India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as major drug transit or illegal drug producing countries.

In a presidential determination, Obama designated Bolivia Myanmar and Venezuela as the three countries that have demonstrably failed, during the previous 12 months, to make substantial efforts to adhere to their obligations under international counter narcotic agreements.

However, Obama said a country''s presence on the Majors List is not necessarily an adverse reflection of its government''s counter narcotic efforts or level of cooperation with the US.

Noting that Afghanistan remains the world''s largest producer of opium poppy and a major source of heroin, the presidential determination signed by Obama said although the amount of opium poppy cultivated in Pakistan is much less than Afghanistan, the country continues to qualify as a major drug producing country, with an estimated 1,700 hectares of opium poppy under cultivation.

From: http://ping.fm/chPAv