The latest effort at disarmament began in southern Afghanistan, where about a thousand men gave up their weapons in return for cash, and other, payments.

The  World Bank estimates that over two decades of war in Afghanistan have done some $240 billion in damage. It is also estimated that it will cost some $28 billion to restore minimal levels of infrastructure in the country.

The government sent 500 troops to the northeast, around the Khyber Pass, and destroyed several dozen heroin manufacturing operations. The drug gangs had been more openly setting up their drug refining operations in this area and this was the government response. Despite efforts like this, however, it is expected that drug production in Afghanistan will double in the coming year.