The ongoing Afghan government crackdown to eradicate poppy in the war-ravaged country would prove counterproductive and lead to the disintegration of government control in the volatile southern region, a French-based Security and Development Policy Group (SENLIS) warned Sunday.

"The forced eradication of farmers' poppy crops in the Pashton-belt areas of Afghanistan is leading to a rapid disintegration of government control and an increase in Taliban and al-Qaida power," Executive Director of Senlis council Emmanuel Reinert told newsmen at a press conference here.

He gave this warning amid government crackdwon against poppy- cultivated lands in the southern Helmand province, which is famous for poppy products and Taliban-linked militancy.

An international security and development think tank, the Senlis council was of the view that forced poppy crop elimination and security objectives are at odds and have reduced people's confidence in government.

"This confidence will be very difficult to restore and without it many of Afghanistan's provinces along the border with Pakistan will be lost to insurgents and terrorist groups," he stressed.

A strong advocate of legalizing poppy plantation the Senlis council late last year called on the Afghan government to legalize poppy and use it in pharmaceutical field but the government categorically rejected the suggestion and said it would fight against the contraband till its complete elimination from the society.

The survey conducted by UN office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) late last year indicated 21 percent drop in producing the contraband in 2005, the agency expects rise in cultivating the menace this year.

Afghanistan with an output of 3,600 tons of opium poppy in 2003, 4,200 tons in 2004 and 4,100 tons in 2005 respectively have topped poppy producing nations in the world.

The country under President Hamid Karzai leadership is striving to reduce poppy cultivation by 75 percent by 2008.

Source: Xinhua