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Summary:
Opium poppy cultivation and drug trafficking have become significant factors in Afghanistan's fragile political and economic order over the last 25 years. In 2004, Afghanistan was the source of 87% of the world's illicit opium and heroin, in spite of ongoing efforts by the Afghan government, the United States, and their international partners to combat poppy cultivation and drug trafficking. U.N. officials estimate that in-country illicit profits from the record 2004 poppy crop were equivalent in value to 60% of the country's legitimate GDP, raising fears that Afghanistan's economic recovery is being underwritten increasingly by drug profits. Across Afghanistan, regional militia commanders, criminal organizations, and corrupt government officials have exploited opium production and trafficking as reliable sources of revenue and patronage, which has perpetuated the threat these groups pose to the country's fragile internal security and the legitimacy of its embryonic democratic government. The trafficking of Afghan drugs also appears to provide financial and logistical support to a range of extremist groups that continue to operate in and around Afghanistan, including remnants of the Taliban regime and some Al Qaeda operatives. The issue is further complicated by an aspect of coalition forces' ongoing pursuit of security and counterterrorism objectives: frequent reliance for intelligence and security support on figures who may be involved in the production or trafficking of narcotics. The failure of U.S. and international counternarcotics efforts to significantly disrupt the Afghan opium trade or sever its links to warlordism and corruption since the fall of the Taliban has led some observers to warn that without redoubled multilateral action, Afghanistan may succumb to a state of lawlessness and reemerge as a sanctuary for terrorists. Afghan president Hamid Karzai has identified counternarcotics as the top priority for his administration and has stated his belief that "the fight against drugs is the fight for Afghanistan." U.S. and Afghan officials are beginning to implement a new strategy designed to provide viable economic alternatives to poppy cultivation and to disrupt the corruption and narco-terrorist linkages that threaten Afghanistan's security and the success of recent counterterrorism and reconstruction efforts. Preliminary field surveys and official statements indicate that these new counternarcotics initiatives may have contributed to a decrease in opium poppy cultivation in the current 2004-2005 growing season. This report describes the structure and development of the narcotics trade in Afghanistan and explores its relevance to Afghan, U.S., and international security interests. The report provides current statistical information on the opium trade, profiles its various participants, explores alleged narco-terrorist linkages, and reviews the U.S. and international policy response since late 2001. The report also considers current policy debates regarding the role of the U.S. military in counternarcotics operations, opium poppy eradication, alternative livelihood development, funding issues for Congress, and pending legislation including S. 1042 and H.R. 1437. The report will be updated periodically. For more information on Afghanistan, see CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy and CRS Report RS21922, Afghanistan: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
