At the drugs summit the UN recognised president of Afghanistan, Burhanuddin Rabbani, accused the Taliban Movement -- which now controls most of the country -- of financing the war in Afghanistan through illicit drugs money.

Mr Rabbani said the Taliban promoted poppy cultivation and drugs production.

He also accused the Taliban of allowing drug smugglers free passage across Afghanistan's borders and said it was not possible to turn a blind eye to the symmetry that exists between the extra-ordinary rise in drug production and the rise of the Taliban.