US to shift Afghan drug eradication funds to interdiction, alternate crops; G-8 praises move

TRIESTE, Italy — The U.S. is shifting its strategy against Afghanistan’s drug trade, phasing out funding for opium eradication while boosting efforts to fight trafficking and promote alternate crops, the U.S. envoy for Afghanistan said Saturday.

Holbrooke to AP: US shifts money from Afghan drug eradication to interdiction, alternate crops

TRIESTE, Italy — The U.S. has announced a new drug policy for opium-rich Afghanistan, saying it was phasing out funding for eradication efforts and using the money for drug interdiction and alternate crop programs instead.