Working on the Afghan Economic Recovery
Since 1979 and until 1989, Afghanistan fought a merciless war against communist USSR with the support of the US and its allies Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Although Afghanistan has won the war and banished the Soviets, it remained in absolute destruction, poverty, and with ruined infrastructures and no financial resources or steady government.
Once the war ended, all of the different Muslim sections which existed in Afghanistan, and had fought together against the common Soviet enemy, had turned against each other in order to take over the control of the country.
After a deadly civil war, the Taliban – the most extreme, violent and fundamental Muslim section in Afghanistan won and took over the leadership.
While the Taliban was ruling the country, it was also supporting and hosting the terror organization Al-Qaida.
After the New-York September 11th attacks, the Taliban protected Al-Qaida’s warriors and administration and refused to give away Ben-Laden to the Americans.
Therefore, by the end of 2001, the US had invaded Afghanistan and expelled the Taliban’s regime.
Until today the US and its allies (all NATO members) are fighting the Taliban in Afghan and Pakistan territories & mountains.
Their biggest concern is for the Taliban to regain its control over Afghanistan, accumulate power and support Pakistani extremists to take over the rule in Pakistan which holds massive nuclear power.
Since 2002, the US and other NATO members have been pouring billions of dollars into Afghanistan in order to recover and stabilize its economy. Most of the money has been invested in the development of transportation infrastructures, natural resources and education.
In spite of the tremendous financial donations, the unemployment rate in Afghanistan is still over 40% and the economic state of most Afghans is still under any western world standard.
Afghanistan has major growth potential due to two main advantages:
It is one of the world’s largest unused low cost manpower.
The existence of several large natural resources such as uranium, copper, iron and natural gas.
There are three reasons why this potential remains unfulfilled.
First of all, the low security level and the constant Taliban attacks are preventing entrepreneur delegations from arriving to Afghanistan.
Secondly, the Taliban are terrorizing and blackmailing all of the financial projects that are being developed in Afghanistan, sabotaging their progress.
Thirdly, every business attempt encounters tough bureaucracy and corrupt regime by the ruling government.
Therefore, the only way to guarantee the success of the financial stabilization in Afghanistan is by completely eliminating the Taliban’s traces in its territory and implementing strict supervision over the distribution of financial aid, as well as trying to eradicate the existing corruption in the Afghani government.
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