Destruction of poppy fields in Afghanistan

• The destruction of poppy fields in Afghanistan,

Today I want to show you how the Afghan police destroy poppy crops. Quite by chance I got to one of these operations.

Since my visit was not coordinated with the press-service of the Northern Alliance and NATO, I was able to see how to actually run the operation to destroy poppy fields. Can rest easy in Afghanistan still collect a record harvest this year.

Early in the morning we leave the hotel and go to the mountains. Driver promises to show the poppy fields.

Destruction of poppy fields in Afghanistan

To find them is not difficult. Almost all the slopes of the mountains in the vicinity of Faizabad in light green patches of poppy fields.

On the way to meet like tiny lawn in a few tens of square meters, and huge, leaving behind fields horizon.

unexpectedly meets police. They go on another raid. When he learned that I was a journalist from Russia, allowed to go with them and see how fighting with crops.

After 30 minutes we arrive at the meeting place. The police are well armed. You have to understand that for many farmers growing poppy - only income. There are cases when the field rake or undermine police.

Support Group.

Undo field in two phases. First, cut down the stalks with sticks, and then plowed field tractor. As explained by one of the policemen, to cut down the stems need to ensure that farmers are not then re-planted plants.

To work attract residents of nearby villages.

Oh ... beautiful poppy flowers!

On the field, run out the women and children. They cry and throw a stick. A month later they were already to harvest and sell it, for many the money was the only option to survive another year in this hole.

The options have a little bit. You can start to work and to grow other crops, you can go to the Taliban or to starve to death.

Having lost everything, many people choose the second option and enter the Taliban. After such raids in the village often come to the Taliban to recruit new members. People despair ready to go all out here to recruit suicide bombers, who will travel tomorrow to avenge the police and military.

On the camera police work with double zeal.

But in fact, destroy, at best, half the crops.

Do not cry girl is now my uncle with the camera will take your fields, and left alone. You grow up and you will not be aware of other work, but to grow poppy. After heroin - the only thing that makes Afghanistan.

Policeman shows how to make heroin from poppies, but I did not understand the technology.

After 15 minutes, the soldiers get used to me, we become "friends." To work was more fun, guys moistened cigarette poppy milk and smoke it. The action "against honey bees" begins.

The current US program to combat Afghan drug trafficking, which focuses on the destruction of poppy fields is a "waste of money". So say the Americans.

"The program can be, and to destroy a certain number of acres of poppy, but ultimately it plays into the hands of only the movement" Taliban ", since, on the one hand, does not reduce the Taliban's proceeds of drug trafficking, and on the other - results in the ranks militants Afghan farmers who are dissatisfied with the destruction of their crops. "

The new US program involves the replacement of poppy as a crop and creating a situation where the Afghan farmers will be more profitable to grow other types of plants.

to the soldier put in charge of the boy with the GPS, notebook and camera. He fixes the camera all the fields before and after work. Put down all the coordinates. The need to account for American money.

Gather owners of the fields.

Tractor ...

Hello from Lukashenka;)

Here is the field after the destruction.

From the air operation support helicopters.

At the end of all the locals bring together police and reads them a lecture about the dangers of drug production. Peasants talk about how you can earn money, offer to grow other crops.

The villagers sit and look at the policeman, 10 minutes ago smoke a "cheerful cigarette." He somehow strange shakes his head, his speech was slurred. Surely they think at this point that the drugs - it's bad.

NATO believes that the problem of drug production in Afghanistan should be addressed with extreme caution - not to lose the loyalty of the local people, many of them drug cultivation is the only source of income. "We can not put ourselves in a situation in which deprive people who live in the second poorest country in the world, the sole source of income without providing them with any alternative"

That's all. Alternatively, as seen in this photo residents left. More than half of the crops no one touched. US funds will have a remarkable record of the boy with a notebook, where it will be seen as the brave Afghan soldiers destroy crops this infection. The government will allocate a few million dollars to fight poppy. A month later the peasants gather, is expected to record poppy harvest.