Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected a US claim that linked 463 kilograms of crystal meth seized in Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a response issued on September 25 that the attribution was "baseless and politically motivated."
According to the US embassy, 463 kilograms of crystal meth were seized through cooperation between the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force. The shipment was valued at about $21 million and was reportedly intended for Sri Lanka. The US side linked it to Afghanistan.
The Afghan foreign ministry rejected the claim and said the production, trafficking and use of narcotics are prohibited in Afghanistan.
The two sides therefore hold differing positions on the origin of the drugs, and the available information does not independently establish that attribution.