Asia-Africa Projects Group (AAPG) LLC

What Afghanistan needs after 2014: A lighter, smarter, long-term commitment – Foreign Policy Magazine (By AAPG Vice President Gianni Koskinas)

aapg — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:28:02 +0000

Maintaining a large military presence in Afghanistan is not in the strategic interests of either the U.S. or the Afghan government. It does not help the United States accomplish its long-term goal of countering terrorism from the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, nor its short-term goal of helping Afghanistan achieve stability and self-reliance in fighting insurgency. It is also economically unsustainable. However, retaining a smaller, lighter, residual presence in Afghanistan is critical to U.S. strategy and vital to core U.S. interests.

In the Wake of War: Geo-strategy, Terrorism, Oil and Domestic Politics – AAPG Vice President Frank Anderson et al.

will — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:33:57 +0000

A panel discussion from the run-up to the invasion of Iraq

Curse of the Khyber Pass – Milt Bearden

will — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:30:23 +0000

A call for strategic innovation in Obama’s Afghan war

An Enabling Investment Climate – World Bank Group

will — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:26:09 +0000

A presentation on oil and gas opportunities in Afghanistan (PowerPoint file)

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires – Milt Bearden

will — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:23:56 +0000

An article, published in Foreign Affairs, on Afghanistan’s history of invasion and resistance.

Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Newsletter, 8/2012

will — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:22:10 +0000

An update on current mineral projects in Afghanistan, with information on iron, copper, and natural gas deposits.

Afghanistan in 2012: a Survey of the Afghan People

will — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:12:28 +0000

The Asia Foundation’s annual survey of perceptions and opinions, conducted in June 2012:

http://www.asiafoundation.org/country/afghanistan/2012-poll.php

Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Brochure

will — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:10:45 +0000

Published in 2012, this brochure highlights Afghanistan’s mineral regions, as well as specific upcoming tenders.

Generals Minerals Brochure13

Crisis looms in central Asia’s Great Game – Financial Times

aapg — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:54:34 +0000

A flurry of security officials from Nato, the US and the EU have been visiting the region trying to reassure the governments in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan that border Afghanistan, and fragile Kyrgyzstan, over increased aid and security. US officials are also believed to be offering sales of unwanted heavy weapons from the Afghan theatre.

But at the same time Russia and China are trying to wean those governments away from the US, with Vladimir Putin in particular making a determined effort to return central Asia to Russia’s backyard. In October Mr Putin signed a new 30-year treaty to secure a base in Tajikistan. A joint Russian-Tajik statement spoke of “the threat of terrorism and drug trafficking from Afghanistan”. The 7,000 Russian troops based in Tajikistan might increase. A month earlier Mr Putin had signed a treaty with Kyrgyzstan extending an air base lease for 20 years.

Read the full story here.

Afghan Government unveils first tranche of mining and oil contracts – Global Witness

aapg — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:56:53 +0000

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines announced last week that it would make public all details of oil and mineral mining contracts entered into by the government.

The Afghan government has made a landmark advance in mineral sector transparency, enabling the Afghan people to see and scrutinize the deals negotiated on their behalf. Over the last week, it has published in full the 2011 Amu Darya oil contract and more than 200 small mine contracts.[1] The crucial question now is what the government’s next steps will be to fulfill and sustain its stated goal of transparency, accountability and international best practice in Afghanistan’s extractives sector.

Read the full story here.