Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

ADB, Afghanistan Agree On New Strategic Partnership

'ADB, Afghanistan Agree On New Strategic Partnership', Asian Development Bank, 6 March 2009

EXCERPT: "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Afghanistan have forged a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2009-2013 that retains a sharp focus on investments that will bolster the country's energy, transport, and irrigation sectors. 'In addition to being one of the poorest countries in the entire Asia and Pacific region, Afghanistan is confronted with a daunting set of development challenges,' says ADB Vice-President, Xiaoyu Zhao. 'Pervasive insecurity and the country's still-limited human capacity constrains effective implementation not only of the Government's ambitious reform agenda, but also of physical works that will create employment and economic growth.' Approved by ADB's Board of Directors in Manila today, the new partnership strategy is closely aligned with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and focuses on a limited number of priority sectors."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Afghanistan fight turns to economy, governance', DVIDS, 6 March 2009
'Time to "kick-start" more effective development in Afghanistan: Canadian PM', The Canadian Press, 6 March 2009

Related posts:
'The A to Z guide to Afghanistan assistance 2009', 13 February 2009
'Attacks on aid challenge Afghan reconstruction', 18 September 2008
'ADB pledges continued assistance in Afghanistan', 13 June 2008

A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land

'A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land: Afghanistan, Canada, and the New Great Energy Game', Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), 19 June 2008

EXCERPT: "The proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will transport approximately 33 billion cubic metres per year of natural gas 1,680 kilometres from the Dauletabad gas field in southeast Turkmenistan through southern Afghanistan, to Pakistan, terminating in Fazilka, India. The impact of the TAPI pipeline on Canadian Forces must be assessed, given that the proposed pipeline route traverses the most conflict-ridden areas of Afghanistan, crossing through Kandahar province where Canadian Forces are attempting to provide security and defeat insurgents. Construction of the pipeline could provide important economic development opportunities to the region. But if the project proceeds without a peace agreement that will end the insurgency, the pipeline could exacerbate the ongoing conflict and take the Canadian Forces away from other priorities to defend the pipeline."

To continue reading the article, click here [pdf].

See also:
'Pipeline Opens New Front In Afghan War', The Globe and Mail, 19 June 2008

Related post:
'Trans-Afghan pipeline: New geopolitics in old style', 13 May 2008

ADB Pledges Continued Assistance For Afghanistan

'ADB Pledges Continued Assistance For Afghanistan', Hindustan Times, 13 June 2008

EXCERPT: "The Asian Development Bank said on Friday [13 June 2008] that it has pledged up to $1.3 billion in new assistance to Afghanistan in the next five years. The Manila-based bank said in a statement that it made the pledge during a donors conference in Paris. During the meeting, bank vice president Liqun Jin said Afghanistan had made remarkable progress since the fundamentalist Taliban regime was driven from power there in late 2001 in a US-led invasion but the country remained the poorest in the Asia-Pacific region. Jin said, 'renewed efforts were needed" for Afghanistan's further reconstruction and development. He also called for "more resolve to firmly address widespread and institutionalized corruption'."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'ADB - Afghanistan', Asian Development Bank, 13 June 2008