The US and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) cooperate in important areas despite disagreements regarding human rights policies in Laos and the LPDR's strong ties with China and Vietnam. Areas of US-Laos cooperation include: the recovery of Americans missing in action (MIAs), counter-narcotics efforts, the removal of land mines, and avian flu, and the US government remains concerned about the plight of former and remaining Hmong insurgents and their families, with ties to the US-backed Hmong guerilla army of the Vietnam War period, who now number some 2,000-3,000 persons. Figures.