International

NATO troops to attack drug barons

BUDAPEST: NATO Defence Ministers on Friday authorised their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to $100 million a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters.

“With regard to counter-narcotics ... ISAF can act in concert with the Afghans against facilities and facilitators supporting the insurgency,” said NATO spokesman James Appathurai, referring to the NATO force.

The U.S. had been pushing for NATO’s 50,000 troops to take on a counter-narcotics role to hit back at the Taliban, whose increasing attacks have cast doubt on the prospects of a Western military victory in Afghanistan.

However, Germany, Spain and others were wary and their doubts led to NATO imposing conditions on the anti-drug mandate for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

Troops will only be able to act against drug facilities if authorised by their own governments; only drug producers deemed to be supporting the insurgency will be targeted; and the operation must be designed to be temporary — lasting only until the Afghan security forces are deemed able to take on the task.

The Ministers will review the success of the mission when they next meet February in Poland. Despite the limitations, NATO’s top commander said the agreement gave him sufficient authority to act against the Taliban’s drug lord backers. — AP

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