Afghanistan is located in the heart of Asia and has played the role of a bridge between South and Central Asia and as well as among countries of the region. Afghanistan's neighbors are important and great countries, that are expanding their role in the global economy and politics. China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries are located around Afghanistan.

Afghanistan will be able to better use its position if it develops regional cooperation. Afghanistan has the potential to become a platform for regional cooperation and play a key role in the development of cooperation among countries in the region. Recognizing the value and importance of regional cooperation, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has sought and continues to strive to expand political, economic, and cultural ties and cooperation with regional organizations and countries in the region. In a message, President Ghani made it clear “that the future of Afghanistan depends on the nature of regional cooperation”. The development of regional cooperation is one of the key priorities of the current Afghan government's foreign policy.

It should be noted that President Ghani has played an important role in the development of regional cooperation, developing relations and cooperation with regional organizations and important countries of the region. Despite many political, security, and social challenges, President Ghani was able to provide an opportunity for the construction of major regional projects during the national unity government. Implementation of these regional projects will pave the way for the economic growth and development of Afghanistan and the region.

Some of the major projects under construction during President Ghani's presidency are -- Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline; Central Asia-South Asia electricity transmission project (CASA-1000); Five-Nation rail corridor; Afghanistan-Tajikistan gas pipeline; Turkmenistan, Afghanistan & Tajikistan railway; special economic zones; Afghanistan's railway network; and the Chabahar port project in Iran with India's support.

With the completion of these major projects, Afghanistan will earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually and will expand political, economic, and social ties and cooperation among the countries of the region. 

Moreover, in all the above-stated projects there are shared benefits and interests of the involved countries, so implementation of these big regional economic projects can also be effective and beneficial for security, stability, addressing poverty, unemployment, and social problems in the region. It will also help in ushering peace.

These projects will not only be a reason for the development in the region but will be able to create jobs, thus helping in gaining the trust of the people, who could dream of leading a comfortable and a better life instead of the daily destruction. It will also provide Kabul opportunity to fostser collaboration between Pakistan and India for regional development.”

Politically too, these projects will ensure cooperation between countries, thus helping in cementing better relations of the member countries. It is hoped that the existing untrustworthiness will turn into friendship. These projects will also promote trade relations between South and Central Asian countries.

To a possible extent, the security situation in Afghanistan, which at present remains uncertain, would also change. But the most important factor will be job generation for the youth. It is estimated that a staggering 63 percent of the population is under the age of 25, considered to be one of the largest percentages of youth populations in the world. Due to their large number, the youth has always been a target for recruitment by extremist organisations. These projects will help the youth to find better avenues rather than being forced to join militancy. This will also help in reducing the destruction and devastation the conflict-ridden country faces every day with one terror attack after another.

History will credit President Ghani for his efforts for the reconstruction of the war-torn country through regional development.  

(The writer is a researcher at Regional Studies Center, Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan (ASA), Kabul. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at saifullahahmadzi@gmail.com)

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Bibliography

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