President Karzai Meets John P. Walters, Director of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy 
 
President Karzai Meets John P. Walters, Director of White House ONDCPOn September 25, President Karzai met with John P. Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Washington DC.

Both sides discussed effective ways of reducing narcotics production and smuggling in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need to strengthen Afghanistan’s law enforcement institutions, eradicate poppy fields, and implement strong anti-corruption measures.

President Karzai highlighted the importance of alternative livelihood programs and finding suitable markets for the products of Afghan farmers:

“The international community, especially the United the States of America, can play a significant role in reducing poppy cultivation in Afghanistan through supporting the alternative livelihood program.  

In order to fight narcotics more effectively, we should concentrate on the implementation of reconstruction projects and the use of financial sources by the Afghan government institutions.”