Russia amid changing perspective of Afghanistan
... Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that in 2006 the share of Afghan opiates passing through the Northern route was less than 15 percent of the total, while more traditional routes were more heavily utilized (53 percent through Iran and 33 percent through Pakistan). The share of heroin in Russia’s opiate consumption has also marginally declined. Afghanistan is of key significance to Russia’s wider Central Asian policy and its claim to a great power status, writes Monika Pawar. “Moreover, the socio-cultural and ethno-linguistic nexus between non-Pashtun Afghanistan and the Central Asian Countries that creates friendly cushion for Russia and ...