Ministers of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan will meet here on 24 and 25 November to deepen co-operation in their fight against drug trafficking.
Following a meeting of senior officials of the three countries, Minister of Counter Narcotics of Afghanistan Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani, Secretary-General of the Drug Control Headquarters of Iran Eng Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Arbab Muhammad Zahir are expected to issue a declaration at the end of the meeting. Also the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov will be participating in the meeting.
On the agenda of the meeting will be enhancing the work of the first regional law enforcement operations centre. The Joint Planning Cell (JPC) in Tehran opened in 2009 to facilitate information sharing and operations aimed at seizing illicit drugs.
The Ministers will discuss organising of more joint operations to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Six joint operations have taken place leading to significant drug seizures - almost 2,500 kilograms of opium, heroin and hashish and the arrests of at least 74 drug traffickers.
They will also discuss expanding and strengthening border controls between the three states. The countries have started to open a network of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) to increase cross-border co-operation between law enforcement agencies. The Triangular Initiative is facilitated by UNODC and brings together the Ministers from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan who responsible for drug control. The three countries focus at finding solutions to the threats posed by drug trafficking in the region by enhancing co-operation in law enforcement. UNODC provides assistance to the three countries in implementing their agreements.