The presidents of Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday called on the international community to make concerted efforts to help end Afghanistan's drug smuggling problem, reported Xinhua.
The joint appeal was made in a statement issued at a press conference following a summit of the four leaders in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, the Interfax news agency reported.
Drug-smuggling, a major financial source for terrorists, has been increasingly rampant in Afghanistan, the statement said, describing the trend as "very troubling."
The presidents urged the international community to closely cooperate with the Afghan government and take tougher measures in coping with the drug threat.
Facilitating Afghanistan's involvement in regional economic cooperation would benefit the Central Asian country's economic recovery and the normalization of its domestic situation, they said.
The four countries will strengthen their trade and economic relations and take steps to revive the regional social and economic development, they added.