The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Interior, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Counter-Narcotics, as well as ambassadors from the US and UK and representatives from UNODC and UNAMA.

Habibullah Qaderi, Minister of Counter-Narcotics, presented a detailed report on the effective implementation of Afghanistan’s strategy to combat narcotics, including the alternative livelihood program and other programs headed by the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics.

Minister Qaderi said, “The US has pledged US $140 million and the UK has pledged ₤50 million for implementation of the development and alternative livelihood projects next year.”

President Karzai heard their report and said, “The Government is firmly committed to the fight against narcotics and, with the help of the people of Afghanistan, we are trying to bring all drug-traffickers to justice.”

“According to the teachings of Islam, poppy cultivation is illicit and the profit which is obtained from its trade is Haram.  Drugs kill our young generation, therefore our ulema [religious scholars] and elders are required to preach against the use of drugs from the mosques and warn the farmers and our young generation against the harms of drugs.”

The President called the implementation of the development and alternative livelihood projects crucial to reducing poppy cultivation in the country, emphasizing the balanced implementation of such projects in all provinces throughout Afghanistan.