![]() They have come too far, shed too much blood, and sacrificed too much to turn back now. The vast majority of Afghans do not want to return to the chaos and turmoil of the 1990s. Customs revenues are up, goods are moving across borders, and electricity is flowing from Central Asia to turn the lights on in Kabul. Today, Afghanistan trades more with its regional neighbors than it does with the rest of the world. They have opinions, and they are heard in public debate – whether through Parliament, civil society, or social media.Īfghans are also now economically connected to their neighbors. Afghans watch multiple TV stations from around the region and enjoy access to radio and cell phones. Afghan youth are in schools and on social media. Afghanistan is now connected to the rest of the world. For those of us here who have repeatedly traveled to Afghanistan, we notice right away that today’s Afghanistan is not the Afghanistan of the 1990s. What often gets lost in this discourse is the substantial progress that has been achieved in Afghanistan over the past decade. There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future. With simultaneous security, political, and economic transitions, the decisions Afghans will make will either consolidate the gains of the past decade or undermine them. To be sure, 2014 is a turning point for Afghanistan. For many in the region, it is a time of uncertainty and anxiety about what the future holds. ![]() I’d like to start off by addressing what many of us in this room have been discussing for months now, which is the transition in Afghanistan next year. efforts to promote regional economic cooperation – or what we have termed the “New Silk Road.” It’s a great pleasure to be here and update you on U.S. Thank you, Glen Howard, for your invitation to participate today. Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank the Jamestown Foundation for organizing this conference and for bringing together such a distinguished group of experts and officials to discuss the future of U.S. Western Hemisphere (Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada).Near East (northern Africa, Middle East).Counterterrorism & Countering Violent Extremism. ![]() Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. ![]() Arms Control and International Security.Alphabetical List of Bureaus and Offices. ![]()
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