We hope to create a safe zone around Afghanistan to fight drug trafficking. We must pressure the Taliban and the international community must force the Taliban to stop. The farmers must convert from drug production to other agricultural products. We need to support border guards and the families, materially and morally, of those who lost loved ones fighting drugs. And in Tajikistan, seven drug border guards have been killed.
Drug manufacturing is a form of terrorism.
Religious extremism is directly connected with drugs. Central Asia is strategically important as a transit corridor. Islamic militants are trying to control this corridor through Osh and Khoroug. Uzbekistan has established a center to monitor drugs and it is working with other Central Asian countries and with the United Nations to counter narcotics. The United States law enforcement is cooperating with Uzbekistan to train Uzbek officials in counter Narcotics.