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Afghanistan
The Great Game's new wrinkle: Railroads from Afghanistan to *stan and Bandar-Abbas
2013-02-21

United States plans to link the countries of Central Asia by new rail lines with Afghanistan. At the same time, Washington opposes neither the construction of a railway corridor from Central Asia through Iran, nor Chinese extensions of its national rail system into the area. Nevertheless, according to analysts at the Moscow Strategic Culture Foundation, these overlapping transportation development projects threaten to spark a new "railroad war" in the Central Asian region--one that in the absence of counter-efforts by the Russian Federation is likely to result in a sharp reduction of Moscow's influence over the countries there.

Washington's plan is the most far-reaching, at least immediately, the Foundation suggests. According to the just-released quarterly report prepared by the US special inspector for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, the United States is currently promoting the creating of a new railway network in that country, one that will link with the national railroad systems of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. These countries will, as a result, be able for the first time to ship their products through the Iranian port of Bandar-Abbas via a corridor that, in the words of the report, "will be free from Russian influence"

The US-backed Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation effort calls for the construction of approximately 2,000 kilometers of new railways in Afghanistan, a project to be paid for by the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as by contributions from interested neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan.

A year ago, the Moscow foundation continues, the leaders of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran agreed on the need for cooperation in order to accelerate the construction of a railroad from Iran to Tajikistan through Afghanistan, according to Western news reports. And Washington reportedly approved "this initiative" because it fits in with the US "Silk Road" program and reinforces the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces have been using as a supply route to Afghanistan.

Instead, the Foundation's analysts suggest, the US has a broader and, from Moscow's point of view, more threatening purpose: "to cut off Central Asia from Russia in the transportation and communication sectors."

Beijing's plans to link the Central Asian countries with China's national rail system.
Posted by:Water Modem

#8  be nice to remove the Pak chokehold on supllies
Posted by: Frank G   2013-02-21 11:33  

#7  Got to get the money first.....then build them out of Reardon Metal....
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2013-02-21 11:07  

#6  Glad to see Zero is following through on his infrastructure jobs spending to help unemployment.



Do I need the /sarc tag?
Posted by: Alanc   2013-02-21 09:02  

#5  And blow it up whenever you get "Holy" and upset.
That'll be once a week or so, Preferably when a fully loaded train passes over, loaded with women and children, I won't ride one.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-02-21 07:41  

#4  gromky... no... they repaired them nearly as fast... somewhat different.

But yes, a fine new rail line is exactly what is needed, maybe throw in a telegraph link.
Posted by: Shipman   2013-02-21 07:05  

#3  The Germans built railroads as fast as the Allies could bomb them. It's hard to keep a rail line closed for long.
Posted by: gromky   2013-02-21 06:12  

#2  Railroads destroy easily, think about it.
In "Boomerstan" where can you go.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-02-21 00:44  

#1  Yuuuuppp.

Looks like the USA hasn't forgotten POTUS Teddy "Bully" Roosevelt after all???

What does the D ***NG-IT-WE-VOTED-FOR-YOU-OBAMA future OWG AFL-CIO, etc. get $$$-wise on these Projects from the BAMMER ADMIN, espec as per new Global/International-based New Union setups???

Or are they going to remain most unhappy wid the Bammer???

["JIMMY HOFFA FOR PRESIDENT" 2016 here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-02-21 00:12  

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