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Introduction
In 1979, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
changed the geo-political status of this country from a buffer
zone between the west and east into an active international
field of conflicts. Even though, the change of
this political status cost the people of Afghanistan enormous
damage and human losses, they were able to form one of the
most spectacular resistance movements against the Soviet
invasion during the second half of the twentieth century.
After all, the Afghans struggle against the Soviets had
contributed greatly helping the international system to enter
the new millennium without the Cold War.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991-2
caused Afghanistan to emerge as the meeting-point between
nations and also, a potential cross-road of commerce and
trades between Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the
Persian Gulf states. This emergence provided Afghanistan
a historical role to help the revitalization of ancient Silk
Road. The establishment of a new and modern Silk Road by
the Central Asian and Caucasus nations would form the backbone
of economic interdependency, political stability and regional
security. A modern Silk Road would promote cooperation
among nations and it would also give them the ability to see
their future in the light of ethnic co-existence, cultural
tolerance and mutual understanding. In this case, the
national stability of one country has a great impact on the
restoration of regional security, which make these nations to
survive together or fall behind from the fast track of
economic development and industrial achievement in the world.
Indeed the role of Afghanistan is going to be very crucial and
it would be the determining factor in either helping the
region to achieve prosperity or fall into a vicious cycle of
economic and political disintegration.
Outline
of Issues
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A
brief description of the Central Asia and Caucasus
nations.
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The
economic importance of Afghanistan in Central Asia and
Caucasus.
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The
political importance of Afghanistan in Central Asia and
Caucasus.
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The
military importance of Afghanistan in Central Asia and
Caucasus.
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Afghanistan's
role in the restoration of peace in Central Asia and
Caucasus.
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The
importance of economic interdependency between Afghanistan
and regional countries.
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The
role of natural gas and oil pipeline projects in
Afghanistan.
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The
issue of ethnic co-existence in Central Asia and Caucasus
and its impact on Afghanistan.
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The
issue of cross-border migration and the problems of
refugees and its impact on Afghanistan.
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The
role of Golden Crescent and narco-trade in Afghanistan and
its impact on Central Asia and Caucasus nations.
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The
existence of the non-Afghan transnational Islamic fanatic
activists in Afghanistan and their impact in Central Asia
and Caucasus.
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Cross-border
illegal trades between Afghanistan and Central Asian and
Caucasus countries.
Reports
and Analysis
News
and Events
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Jumma
Namangani, has launched a political party under the name
of Hizb-i-Islami Turkestan... (Dawn,
May 21, 2001)
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