PESHAWAR, Jan 29: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani has termed the drug business in Afghanistan a real threat to regional peace, saying that money got through the illegal trade was being used in terrorist and extremist activities.

The quantum, he said, of drug production inside Afghanistan surpassed US $50 billion yearly despite the presence of allied forces in the war-ravaged country.

He believed that the international community had to defeat the global drug mafia, the real beneficiary of this illicit business, if it really wanted peace in the region.

“Since mostly the money involved in the illegal trade is used for terrorist activities, the possibilities of certain insurgent groups operating inside Afghanistan cannot be ruled out,” remarked Mr Ghani.

He was talking to reporters following his maiden interaction with local business community after assuming the office of governor NWFP here on Tuesday at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

To a question, the governor said that stability in Afghanistan was a major guarantee for durable peace in the region, so the real fight against terrorism and extremism should be fought inside Afghanistan.

Suicide bombing and extremism were the products of Afghanistan, which equally affected Pakistan, so fight against terrorism inside Afghanistan had to be won for lasting peace here, he said.

Mr Ghani brushed aside the Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan instability and said: “Soviet Union, United States, Nato and Osama Bin Laden did not come to Afghanistan on our invitation.”

He argued that military operations alone cannot end insurgency in Afghanistan, as all the stakeholders had to be given due share in government for lasting peace in the country.

About situation in Dara Adam Khel, the governor said that the administration used all peaceful means to settle the issue, but the militants kidnapped and killed security personnel, exploded communication towers and captured military trucks after which military operation was essential.

To a question, he said that situation in restive area of Dara Adam Khel would be normalised within two days and traffic would be allowed to ply through Kohat Tunnel.

The governor conceded that deteriorating law and order situation affected industrial sector of NWFP, where climate could not be considered ideal for fresh investment.

He, however, said the government was taking extraordinary measures to improve the situation that would pave the way for fresh investment in the province.

The governor assured the businessmen of taking practical steps for construction of Customs Complex at Torkhum and a dry port in the vicinity of Peshawar.

Earlier, SCCI president Haji Muhammad Asif and leader of Businessman Forum Senator Ilyas Bilour highlighted the problems being faced by the industrialists and the traders of the province.