The United States is working with international donors to realize supply of electricity from energy-rich Central Asian region to Afghanistan and Pakistan, a senior US official said Tuesday.
Richard Boucher, the top US official for South Asia, told a Congressional hearing that trade in electricity can benefit both sides, providing “much-needed energy to South Asia and serving as a major source of future revenue for the countries of Central Asia.”
“Together with other donors, we are also exploring ways to export electricity from Central Asia beyond Afghanistan to Pakistan and eventually India.”
In his prepared statement before a House sub-committee on foreign affairs, the US Assistant Secretary of State for both regions said the U.S. is advocating for the countries of Central Asia to supply power to northern Afghanistan, and helping to develop the Afghan electricity system so Afghans can benefit from that connection.
Continuing on efforts to foster economic and trade ties between the two regions, Boucher referred to August 2007 opening of a new bridge spanning the Pyanzh River that now connects Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
“The bridge is an important piece of a future regional highway network extending from Karachi, Pakistan to Astana, Kazakhstan, including a network of more than 2,400 miles of roads within Afghanistan that have been constructed or reconstructed since 2001.”
Already, since the bridge opened, Afghan vehicle traffic to Tajikistan has increased seven-fold and border tax revenue ten-fold, he added.
America cannot even control outside Kabul area and they plan to send a electrical connection through Afghanistan !
Pakistan should make urgent arragements to sign nuclear reactors from China to gap the electrical shortage.
Pakistan should make urgent arragements to sign nuclear reactors from China to gap the electrical shortage.
QUOTE(omarleeds @ Apr 8 2008, 01:58 PM) 
The United States is working with international donors to realize supply of electricity from energy-rich Central Asian region to Afghanistan and Pakistan, a senior US official said Tuesday.
Richard Boucher, the top US official for South Asia, told a Congressional hearing that trade in electricity can benefit both sides, providing “much-needed energy to South Asia and serving as a major source of future revenue for the countries of Central Asia.”
“Together with other donors, we are also exploring ways to export electricity from Central Asia beyond Afghanistan to Pakistan and eventually India.”
In his prepared statement before a House sub-committee on foreign affairs, the US Assistant Secretary of State for both regions said the U.S. is advocating for the countries of Central Asia to supply power to northern Afghanistan, and helping to develop the Afghan electricity system so Afghans can benefit from that connection.
Continuing on efforts to foster economic and trade ties between the two regions, Boucher referred to August 2007 opening of a new bridge spanning the Pyanzh River that now connects Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
“The bridge is an important piece of a future regional highway network extending from Karachi, Pakistan to Astana, Kazakhstan, including a network of more than 2,400 miles of roads within Afghanistan that have been constructed or reconstructed since 2001.”
Already, since the bridge opened, Afghan vehicle traffic to Tajikistan has increased seven-fold and border tax revenue ten-fold, he added.
Richard Boucher, the top US official for South Asia, told a Congressional hearing that trade in electricity can benefit both sides, providing “much-needed energy to South Asia and serving as a major source of future revenue for the countries of Central Asia.”
“Together with other donors, we are also exploring ways to export electricity from Central Asia beyond Afghanistan to Pakistan and eventually India.”
In his prepared statement before a House sub-committee on foreign affairs, the US Assistant Secretary of State for both regions said the U.S. is advocating for the countries of Central Asia to supply power to northern Afghanistan, and helping to develop the Afghan electricity system so Afghans can benefit from that connection.
Continuing on efforts to foster economic and trade ties between the two regions, Boucher referred to August 2007 opening of a new bridge spanning the Pyanzh River that now connects Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
“The bridge is an important piece of a future regional highway network extending from Karachi, Pakistan to Astana, Kazakhstan, including a network of more than 2,400 miles of roads within Afghanistan that have been constructed or reconstructed since 2001.”
Already, since the bridge opened, Afghan vehicle traffic to Tajikistan has increased seven-fold and border tax revenue ten-fold, he added.
Pakistan will first build the Iran pipeline, I just cant wait for the bilater Iran-Pak pipeline to start construction it will be such a blow to US policy in the region. Pakistan has its own interests and while our interests are the same with the US we will make the most of it, When our interests are not the same Pakistan will go its own way to secure its interests, I guess Pakistan will just have to work with the US, and work around them when needed. A good way to counter growing US-India relations is to build stronger Iran-Pakistan and China-Pakistan relations.
QUOTE(Captain Bribes @ Apr 9 2008, 01:33 PM)
Pakistan will first build the Iran pipeline, I just cant wait for the bilater Iran-Pak pipeline to start construction it will be such a blow to US policy in the region. Pakistan has its own interests and while our interests are the same with the US we will make the most of it, When our interests are not the same Pakistan will go its own way to secure its interests, I guess Pakistan will just have to work with the US, and work around them when needed. A good way to counter growing US-India relations is to build stronger Iran-Pakistan and China-Pakistan relations.
i agree,this maybe a ploy to keep us away from chinese reactors.Also to stop India from the pipeline project.
But maybe,investors look outside the states when its recession or going into recession,can that be the reason?
Investors do tend to look outside the US in a recession but I hardly doubt they'd be looking at investments as risky as the construction of power lines through Afghanistan and (to a lesser extent) into Pakistan.
I think after terrorism the biggest issue facing the nation today is a viable energy policy that looks beyond the next 5 years....a very close third would be the overhaul of the education system.
I think after terrorism the biggest issue facing the nation today is a viable energy policy that looks beyond the next 5 years....a very close third would be the overhaul of the education system.
Musharaf now said in China that he wishes to have Iran-Pakistan-China pipeline instead of Iran-Pakistan-India
QUOTE(Amjad @ Apr 14 2008, 06:16 PM)
Musharaf now said in China that he wishes to have Iran-Pakistan-China pipeline instead of Iran-Pakistan-India
Thats because the Chinese unlike Indians have the money for such a trilateral project.
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