Laghman takes lead in war on opium
(Arman-e-Milli) The British ambassador to Afghanistan has held up the eastern province of Laghman as an example for the rest of the country in eradicating opium poppies. Addressing a meeting held on July 6 in Laghman, Ambassador Rosalind Marsden said she appreciated the population's voluntary participation in the destruction of poppy fields. "The central government did not have to send police to eradicate poppies from Laghman," said the diplomat, whose country is leading the counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. According to a survey of the United Nation Office of Drugs and Crimes, over 3,000 hectares of poppy fields were voluntarily destroyed last year in Laghman.
(Arman-e-Milli is an independent daily.)

Cartoon of the Day

Extra forces arrive to provide election security
(Cheragh) The ISAF peacekeeping force is bringing in a reserve force to ensure security during September's parliamentary elections. An ISAF spokesman reported that additional troops from the Dutch and Romanian forces arrived in Kabul on July 6. He added that the new force would be based in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif during the election period. The ISAF spokesman said the supporting force would number 2,000 soldiers, who would stand by to assist the Afghan government in case of any threats or incidents.
(Cheragh is an independent daily run by the Development and Democracy Association.)

Asphalt-producing plant inaugurated
(The Kabul Times) A new asphalt-producing plant was inaugurated by Kabul's mayor, Dr. Ghulam Sakhi Noorzad, on July 4. According to the state-run Bakhtar Information Agency, the equipment for the plant was made in India and was donated to Kabul city by USAID. The plant has a production capacity of 40 tons of asphalt per hour. At the inauguration, held at the factory in the Tarakhil district of Kabul, the mayor said the opening of the plant was an important step in promoting industry and providing better services for people in Kabul.
(The Kabul Times is a state-run newspaper published in English every other day.)

Narcotics seizure
(Hewad) Police seized 15.5 kilograms of hashish in the western province of Farah on July 5. According to the state-run Bakhtar Information Agency, the hashish was found by counter-narcotics police at a hideout in the centre of Farah city. No arrests have yet been made in connection with this case. According to a report from Nangarhar province, 76 kilograms of precursor chemicals, used in processing raw opium into of heroin, have been seized. Police have detained those involved in smuggling the chemicals.
(Hewad is a state-run daily published mostly in Pashto.)