HUNGARY
NATO troops to target Afghan drug barons
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — NATO defense ministers, meeting here Friday, authorized their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to $100 million a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters.
The United States had pushed for NATO’s 50,000 troops to take on a counter-narcotics role to hit back at the Taliban, whose increasing attacks have cast doubt on the prospects of a Western military victory in Afghanistan.
But Germany, Spain and others were wary, and their doubts led to NATO imposing conditions on the anti-drug mandate.
Troops will be able to act against drug facilities only if authorized by their own governments; only drug producers deemed to be supporting the insurgency will be targeted; and the operation must be designed to be temporary — lasting only until the Afghan security forces are deemed able to take on the task.
