Nato agrees on Afghan drug role for troops

Nato has authorised troops to attack drugs barons blamed for pumping money into the coffers of Taliban fighters.

The US defence secretary Robert Gates, right, and British counterpart John Hutton listen during a round table meeting of Nato defense ministers in Budapest.

BUDAPEST // Nato defence ministers today authorised their troops in Afghanistan to attack drugs barons blamed for pumping up to US$100 million a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters. "With regard to counter-narcotics ... ISAF can act in concert with the Afghans against facilities and facilitators supporting the insurgency," said Nato spokesman James Appathurai, referring to the Nato force. The United States had been pushing for Nato's 50,000 troops to take on a counter-narcotics role to hit back against the Taliban, whose recent upsurge in attacks has cast doubt on the prospects of a Western military victory in Afghanistan. However, Germany, Spain and others were wary and their doubts led to Nato imposing conditions on the anti-drugs mandate for the force. Troops will only be able to act against drugs facilities if authorised 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 - in effect only until the Afghan security forces are deemed able to take on the task. Nato defense ministers will review the success of the mission when they next meet February in Poland. *AP