Mining a Source of Income for Afghanistan - But it is Years Away

Afghanistan has rich resources in minerals and there is great promise for the future of the country's economy because of these minerals. However, getting the minerals out of the ground and to the consumer is years away due to the lack of equipment, infrastructure, railways, and security. Read more about the abundant mineral resources and the huge problems in exploitation of the minerals. See "Excavating a future in Afghanistan", Stars and Stripes, March 24, 2103.

Kajaki Dam Project Turned Over to Afghans by USAID

The Kajaki Dam project in Helmand province is being turned over to the Afghan government by USAID. A lot of money and lives were spent and lost in an attempt to get this project finished up. USAID is now turning this critical project over to the Afghan state-run electricity company (DABS). Many are questioning whether DABS has the expertise to install the hydropower turbine and get the electricity flowing. It seems that the Obama administration is keen to push more and more projects off to the Afghans and that Karzai is pushing for the same. What is at stake in regards to the dam is the technical and operational ability to finish the job that USAID started and the great fear that much of the money will be siphoned off by the Afghans due to corruption. Read more in "Dam and other Afghanistan projects being scaled back as U.S. picks up pace of withdrawal", By Rajiv Chandrasekaran, The Washington Post, March 4, 2013.

China's Long-Term Strategy for Afghanistan

China is a country that has always taken a long view of the world and its destiny. Its relationship with Afghanistan is no exception. China has time on its side and they are using it. They have avoided becoming involved in the internal politics of Afghanistan. They have not to any large degree supported the Western powers in their military occupation of Afghanistan (through military assistance, troops in the ground, and participating in the Northern Distribution Network NDN). China has been engaged with Afghanistan in other areas - especially in the economic sector. China sees a stable Afghanistan as a source for raw materials (Afghanistan has a large amount of raw minerals) and as a market for China's export of finished goods. Many observers note that the Western powers are doing the heavy lifting in the fight against the Taliban and one of the countries that will benefit the most from a successful conclusion of the conflict will be China. You can read more about the China-Afghanistan relationship in a paper wrote by Serafettin Yilmaz - a doctoral candidate in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taiwan.

"Afghanistan: China's New Frontier?", December 19, 2012.
www.e-ir.info/2012/12/19/afghanistan-chinas-new-frontier/

A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance (AREU)

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has released the 11th Edition (2013) of the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance. Contained within the publication is a glossary of assistance terms, extensive listing of assistance organizations, an overview of the Afghanistan system of government, and information about the provinces and districts of Afghanistan. If you are in the business of security, governance, development, counterinsurgency, or Security Force Assistance (SFA) this book will be invaluable to you.

 You can order hard copies of the 2013 edition or download the 2012 edition off the AREU website. The hardcopies cost about $20 USD or Afs 1000 with limited editions available. The electronic copy (2012) can be downloaded for free.

 

www.areu.org.af

 

Afghan Women Improve Their Lot with Dairy Goat Project - News from ICARDA

A recent news release provides information about a dairy goat project that has provided substantial benefits to women in agricultural areas of Afghanistan. The women-orientated project has increased incomes, improved nutrition, and created new platforms for community development. Read more in "Dairy goat project improves women's welfare in Afghanistan", International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), March 2012.

TAPI Natural Gas Pipeline Not in Afghanistan's Future Soon

A recent article states that the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline is not going to be built soon. This endeavor would entail a pipeline built and carrying natural gas from Turkmenistan, across Afghanistan and Pakistan, and into India for processing and shipment to customers. For Afghanistan, the pipeline would mean increased revenue for its national budget. However, the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan has put this very important project on hold. Read more in "Collateral Damage From Afghan Turmoil - - the TAPI Pipeline", Huffington Post, March 21, 2012.

Natural Gas in Afghanistan: Promise for the Future?

If the conflict in Afghanistan can ever be settled there is some hope for the future in Afghanistan - at least in the realm of its energy needs. A recent news report on the significant amounts of recoverable natural gas in northern Afghanistan points to the possibility that the country's energy needs could be met for many years to come. Read more in "Afghanistan: Does War-Battered Country Have Energy Wealth?", by Pierre Bertrand, International Business Times, March 14, 2012.

Organizations Doing Development Work in Afghanistan

There are many organizations engaged in development work in Afghanistan.  Click on the link below to see a list:  http://www.afghanwarnews.info/development.htm

$2.7 Million per Mile of Gravel Road in Afghanistan

Road projects in Afghanistan have " . . . been plaqued by the spread of the insurgency, poor oversight, cost overruns and corruption . . ." according to recent reports.  In one instance an Afghan developer was paid $270 million to work on a project but has only completed 100 miles of gravel road.

Read more in "Afghan road construction projects wander off course", Stars and Stripes, February 10, 2012.

Solar Power Options for Rural Afghanistan

There are a number of non-government agencies, international organizations, and implementing partners engaged in activities to bring power to rural areas of Afghanistan. Solar energy is a viable option for Afghanistan. To learn more about the programs currently underway visit Solar Energy in Afghanistan.

Businesses Succeed in Building Afghanistan Infrastructure

International businesses are fully engaged in building an infrastructure (irrigation, electrical power, etc.) in Afghanistan that never existed.  These firms come under a lot of pressure when they fall behind in their project time lines or experience cost overruns. The security situation impacts the costs and schedules immensely.  Read an article that explores the difficulty of conducting business in Afghanistan and why we need to more fully support these firms.  See "Like No Place on Earth: How U.S. Businesses Are Succeeding in Afghanistan", Forbes.com, February 9, 2011.

A Discouraging View of How Military Operations Hinder Development from Occuring in Afghanistan

There is lots going wrong in Afghanistan - one of which is the inability to get development to occur at a faster rate.  As a part of the counterinsurgency strategy - providing services (electricity, schools, roads, irrigation, medical clinics, etc.) through new development projects is supposed to tie the local populace in the rural areas to the district and provincial governments - thereby generating support for the central government (you know, the one run by Karzai and his corrupt cronies).  There are many reasons cited for development not progressing as fast as it should.  Security is the main reason - it is hard to build roads if the roads are mined with IEDs and the workers threatened, kidnapped, or killed.  These development projects sometimes have to provide for their own security so private security firms are contracted for - using a good portion of the development funds.  Corruption is another problem.  The Afghan governmental system is rife with corrupt officials from Karzai down to the lowest level.  One particular journalist, Mark Curtis, writing for the British newspaper - The Guardian - lays the blame on the military and military operations.  Read his view in "Afghanistan is being stifled by military operations",  The Guardian, February 19, 2011.

Providing Electricity in Afghanistan - A Daunting Task for Black & Veatch

There is much money being spent on reconstruction (a more correct term would be construction) in Afghanistan.  Most of these projects are not completed on time and run over on the projected costs.  In a no-bid environment where security is an illusion and corruption amongst Afghan government officials is rampart - this is expected.  U.S. construction firms had a hard time operating in that environment and are criticized for not finishing projects on time.  One example of this is the task of providing electricity to southern Afghanistan.  The firm Black & Veatch Corporation is very involved in that endeavor.  Read of the difficulties with major construction projects in Afghanistan in "Black & Veatch's fog-of-war contract in Afghanistan", The Kansas City Star, February 20, 2011.

Providing Electricity to Afghanistan - An Overwhelming Project

In an effort to increase development, spark the economy, provide for a better standard of living, and increase support for the central government the U.S. has embarked on many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.  One of the more important development projects is providing electricity.  The providing of electricity in Afghanistan the past few years has seen some success but not at the desired levels.  Read more on this topic in "Firm with checkered record hired for Afghan work", The Washington Examiner, January 10, 2010.

A Culture of Business in Afghanistan

Deputy Undersecretary for Defense Paul Brinkley has as one of his tasks the building up of a business culture in Afghanistan.  This task can lead one into many areas of endeavor as the article at the following link reveals.  See "The US military is fighting to build . . . Afghan business culture?", The Christian Science Monitor, January 14, 2011.

Canadian Soldiers Use Tough Love for Panjwaii District - Afghanistan

Canadians are working hard to win over the population and reduce the amount of insurgents fighting for the Taliban.  One of the many methods is the establishment of development projects that increase the standard of living of Afghans (schools, medical clinics, etc.), hiring of young men for these projects in work programs that are designed to take the foot soldier out of the insurgent band, and the conduct of capture/kill operations against the Taliban.  Some villages are more receptive to these development and work programs than others.  Read more on this topic: 

"Months of sometimes tough and bloody fighting by Canadian, U.S. and Afghan forces over the summer and fall weren’t enough to pacify a village that remains a refuge for insurgents in southern Afghanistan.

That’s when the Canadians, with plenty of cash for "icebreaker" projects designed to get young men more interested in jobs than war, decided to just bypass Nakhonay and fund a flood of development projects for its closest neighbours.

Canada’s soldiers have taken on a newer, tough-love approach as two deadlines loom — their summer pullout from Kandahar, and, preceding that, the traditional spring start of another insurgent fighting season."

 "Canadian soldiers try tough love, jealousy to win over Afghan villagers", Montreal Gazette, January 15, 2011.

Kabul, Afghanistan Embassy to be Built by Montgomery, Alabama Firm

A Montgomery, Alabama construction firm has been awarded the contract to build the new U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Read more in "Montgomery firm set to build $416 million US Embassy in Afghanistan", Montgomery Advertiser, January 13, 2011.

Experienced Afghan Inspector General for SIGAR Desired by U.S. Lawmakers

Lawmakers are looking for a competent Inspector General to oversee the billions of dollars spent in Afghanistan. 

"The White House has not started floating candidates to lead the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction office, but lawmakers and aides already are devising a list of qualifications for the high-profile post vacated on Monday by Arnold Fields.

Fields, a former Marine Corps two-star general who had led the office since its creation in 2008, resigned amid a push by a bipartisan group of senators who have blasted him for nearly two years for incompetence and mismanagement.

As the SIGAR, Fields was the top government official charged with investigating waste, fraud, and abuse in Afghanistan. With pressure mounting for his resignation, Fields last week made major changes to his office, including firing two officials who oversaw investigations and audits."

Read the rest of the article in "Lawmakers seek more experienced Afghan inspector general", Government Executive, January 11, 2011.

Building Bridges in Afghanistan

It isn't combat every day in Afghanistan - at least for some units.  There is the "development" piece of counterinsurgency and stability operations that has importance as well. Here is an article about how one unit - the 172nd Cavalry Regiment -  built a bridge over a swift and dangerous river so that inhabitants of one village in Parwan Province could travel to the local community market and medical clinic safely.  Posted by Bouhammer's Afghan Blog at the link below:

http://www.bouhammer.com/2010/12/tobins-pass-bridging-a-river-bonding-the-people/

Development Projects in Nangahar Province Lack Coordination

A recent news article is critical of aid projects in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan.  Read "Development aid in key Afghan province lacking in oversight, audit finds", The Washington Post, October 26, 2010.