Eliminating drug production in Afghanistan is crucial to solving the impoverished state's many other problems, the Russian president's special envoy said.
Moscow has repeatedly criticized U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan for failing to eradicate heroin production and warned that drug trafficking is endangering Russia's national security.
"Without solving the problem of drugs, nothing can be done in Afghanistan. There will be no fight against corruption, no domestic security and no protection for neighboring states," said Anatoly Safonov, the presidential envoy in charge of international cooperation against terrorism and transnational organized crime.
"Speaking about our cooperation with the U.S., we note with approval the adequate solutions and approaches, especially with regard to Afghanistan. But Afghan drugs remain a problem area," Safonov said while speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
The presidential envoy said Russia and the U.S. have no major disagreements on the issue, but are still unable to find an efficient strategy to deal with the increasing flow of drugs from Afghanistan.
Russia says the production of heroin in Afghanistan has increased almost tenfold since the US-led invasion to oust the Taliban in 2001.
He also said that it was not clear whether destroying poppy fields would be effective, as the strategy could motivate peasants to join the Taliban.
"But, on the other hand, this issue must not be ignored," he added.
According to the Federal Drug Control Service, in Russia alone Afghan heroin kills around 30,000 young people each year, with some 100,000 deaths worldwide.
WASHINGTON, May 28 (RIA Novosti)
