The Ministry of Counter Narcotics (MCN) was established in early 2005, having previously been the Counter Narcotics Directorate (CND). CND was established under the National Security Council in October 2002 and became fully operational in January 2003. The mandate of the MCN is to coordinate all counter-narcotics (CN) activities and programs of the Government of Afghanistan with other Ministries, independent bodies, and other concerned organizations.

The MCN is the leading Ministry in CN affairs, and is responsible for coordination, evaluation and implementation of the Counter Narcotics law and the National Drugs Control Strategy (NDCS) in concerned Ministries and organizations, and adopting required measures in the relevant central and provincial offices. The MCN is responsible for evaluation and update of the NDCS with the assistance provided by other Ministries and institutions.

The Ministry reports quarterly to the Government on the results obtained from the evaluation of the activities and performances of the concerned organizations in combating narcotics drugs. Together with the Ministry of Finance,, MCN coordinates and is responsible for the management and implementation of the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF). In addition, MCN coordinates the annual budget of the NDCS with the Ministry of Finance (MoF)

The Ministry has eight (8) pillars of activity under the NDCS: Institution Building, Law Enforcement, International and Regional Cooperation, Eradication, Public Awareness, Alternative Livelihoods, Criminal Justice and Demand Reduction. There are 6 working groups of MCN in which the 8 strategic pillars of the NDCS and its implementation plans/benchmarks are analyzed and discussed to measure the output and outcomes of CN interventions from Line Ministries. Therefore, strategic policy formulation and strategic monitoring tools are essential functions of these working groups, as the outcomes are channeled back to the respective Directorates.

The Minister of Counter Narcotics and Deputy Ministers have a number of government and political responsibilities that cannot be delegated.  The role of the private offices headed by the Chief of Staff is to provide dedicated administrative, scheduling and business management support as well as day-to-day policy support to the Minister and Deputy Minister in fulfilling these responsibilities. The staffing of the private offices includes private secretaries, liaison, diary and correspondence secretaries, and secretariat functions in support of the CN Cabinet Sub-Committee and the CN Consultative Group.

• In the existing MCN structure, there are 6 policy directorates based on the pillars of the NDCS as follows:
• Survey, Monitoring and Evaluation;
• Law Enforcement and Judicial Reform;
• Drug Demand Reduction;
• Alternative Livelihoods; and
• Provincial Relations
• Strategic Communication and Public Relations

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