ISLAMABAD - In a bid to counter NATOs intensive meddling into the region that aims at dictating its own terms regarding drugs control, Russia has intensified its efforts to counter the Western military blocs influence. Informed official sources see the establishment of Anti-Drug Quartet to counter drug trafficking as Russian-sponsored initiative to curtail NATOs repeated intrusion to influence the regional anti-narcotics measures as per its own agenda. Narcotics Control Ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding and issued a joint statement on Wednesday for the establishment of the Quartet that would hold extensive operations in Central Asia for eliminating drug trafficking. Sources were of the view that the United Nations-sponsored Triangular Initiative for drugs control participated by the top narcotics control officials of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan had added to Russias frustration as it had paved way for NATOs influence through Afghanistan. The Triangular Initiative in its last month envisaged the establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) at the border areas of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Given that Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police lack any vibrant mechanism to conduct such kind of operations, NATO troops were scheduled to do 'patrolling from Afghanistans side, a move that would give safe cover to the drug barons who form the ruling elites in Afghan government. The Triangular Initiative, that completely kept Russia out of the loop, is perceived as a US-backed event that came only after NATO failed to convince Russian side to marginalize Pakistans role laid down as per the Octobers land mark anti-narcotics moot signed between Pakistan and Russia. On account of the active collusion between Afghan ruling elites and NATOs top command in Afghanistan, NATO was pressing Russian side to overlook Pakistans Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and conduct joint operations from the platform of Russia-NATO Council. The first batch of the senior officers of Pakistans narcotics control ministry that was scheduled to leave for Russia in March next year to receive training from its Russian counterparts would now be reportedly leaving in the last week of this month. NATO command reportedly believes that any role given to Pakistan Army in eliminating drug trafficking would give a setback to Afghanistans drug economy which is why it seeks minimising any practical role for ANF, a division of Pakistans Ministry of Narcotics Control that is actively administered by Pakistan Army. Relating to this scenario, Russias chief of Federal Anti-Drug Service, Viktor Ivanov on Wednesday categorically criticised NATOs so-called narcotics control strategy and its reluctance to destroy opium cultivations in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the NATO, which has a huge force in Afghanistan, does not take efficient measures to destroy drug production. It appears that NATO does not fix this problem intentionally and I still speculate if NATO has any anti-narcotics strategy, he deplored referring to NATOs patronage for Wali Karzai, brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and one of the leading drug lords known across the world.