Connect Central Asia: Role of Afghanistan

Abstract

The economic potential of the Central Asian countries can be considered as the basis for a new model of cooperation and economic integration. The region of Central Asia can be the bridge between the European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. In this article are considered the role and the place of Afghanistan in transit opportunities of Central Asian countries. The armed opposition in Afghanistan is a major obstacle for the development of regional economic cooperation and realization of wide transit potential of the Central Asia. Nowadays, Afghanistan is actively involved in the integration processes of Central Asia within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other organizations. This fact will certainly help to promote fast reconstruction of Afghanistan in partnership with the Afghan authorities and other members of the international community. However, there is not a common point of view among specialists, analysts, representatives of the expert community and the intelligence services as far as the future development of situation.