Afghanistan Security and Economy, 3/3/17 Video
Mohammad
Homayun Qayoumi, chief adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, delivered
remarks on the future of Afghanistan. He addressed the current security
environment, efforts to fight government corruption, and economic development
challenges. In addition, Mr. Qayoumi said he was encouraged by the Trump
administration’s focus on global terrorism but urged for the continued U.S.
commitment to Afghanistan.
This video is provided by the Center for
Strategic and International Studies. This CSIS video is moderated by Anthony Cordesman,
Chairman. The presentation is made by Mohammad Homayun Osyoumi, Chief
Infrastructure and Technology Advisor to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani
There are 20 terrorist groups in
Afghanistan fighting the Afghan Military and they expect more as the Syrian and
Iraq ISIS wars are won. The reduction of US military forces has produced
unemployment of those who were supporting the US military and their
contractors.
The Afghan government needs to restore
their economy. They are looking at what to grow and they need more dams to
catch snow melt and irrigation systems. They want 29 dams to yield electric
power and this water storage to increase irrigation. They want to expand
agriculture to include what neighboring countries need. They need to renew their oil, gas and mining
coal, marble, metals and precious stones, diamonds, etc. They want investors, not handouts.
Afghanistan and all other neighboring
countries that include Pakistan, India, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Italy,
lack power generation and efficient means to transport goods across countries.
Railroads are needed. Afghan electricity is imported and needs to be expanded
to produce their own electricity. Roads are needed. Countries in the region do
not let goods cross their countries and this needs to change. Imports exceed
exports. Employment is down.
Fighting corruption resulted in savings in
government purchasing. Changes were made in the Judiciary and Military.
Afghans earn $1 or $2 dollars a day. They
need infrastructure to allow local development. Local populations want the
ability to support themselves, mainly through agriculture. The government wants
to support self-sufficiency for local families. Afghan poppy farmers are
reluctant to grow other crops that don’t yield comparable income to them. This locks local Afghans into the drug
business and ties them to the terrorists and the Taliban.
Afghanistan is in the same situation as
Iraq. The Taliban has retaken ground and ISIS and other terrorists are growing
as they migrate from Pakistan. The terrorists want control of the poppy crop to
take over the drug cartel business. Afghans need to provide their own food,
electricity and irrigation water. Afghanistan accepted 1.1 million refugees and
expect more from Pakistan and other countries.
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