DOCSLIB.ORG

An International Collaborative Study to Determine The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An International Collaborative Study to Determine The Peyraud et al. BMC Veterinary Research 2014, 10:48 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/48 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access An international collaborative study to determine the prevalence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia by monoclonal antibody-based cELISA Armelle Peyraud1,2, François Poumarat3,4, Florence Tardy3,4, Lucía Manso-Silván1,2, Karomatullo Hamroev5, Tillo Tilloev5, Mullojon Amirbekov5, Karim Tounkara6, Charles Bodjo6, Hezron Wesonga7, Isabel Gacheri Nkando7, Shiferaw Jenberie8, Martha Yami8, Eric Cardinale9, Deodass Meenowa10, Mahmad Reshad Jaumally10, Tahir Yaqub11, Muhammad Zubair Shabbir11, Nadia Mukhtar11, Mohibullah Halimi12, Ghulam Mohammad Ziay12, Willy Schauwers13, Hafizullah Noori14, Ali Madad Rajabi14, Stéphane Ostrowski15 and François Thiaucourt1,2* Abstract Background: Few serological tests are available for detecting antibodies against Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae, the causal agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). The complement fixation test, the test prescribed for international trade purposes, uses a crude antigen that cross-reacts with all the other mycoplasma species of the “mycoides cluster” frequently infecting goat herds. The lack of a more specific test has been a real obstacle to the evaluation of the prevalence and economic impact of CCPP worldwide. A new competitive ELISA kit for CCPP, based on a previous blocking ELISA, was formatted at CIRAD and used to evaluate the prevalence of CCPP in some regions of Kenya, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan and Pakistan in an international collaborative study. Results: The strict specificity of the test was confirmed in CCPP-free goat herds exposed to other mycoplasma species of the ‘’mycoides cluster”. Prevalence studies were performed across the enzootic range of the disease in Africa and Asia. Seroprevalence was estimated at 14.6% in the Afar region of Ethiopia, whereas all the herds presented for CCPP vaccination in Kenya tested positive (individual seroprevalence varied from 6 to 90% within each herd). In Mauritius, where CCPP emerged in 2009, nine of 62 herds tested positive. In Central Asia, where the disease was confirmed only recently, no positive animals were detected in the Wakhan District of Afghanistan or across the border in neighboring areas of Tajikistan, whereas seroprevalence varied between 2.7% and 44.2% in the other districts investigated and in northern Pakistan. The test was also used to monitor seroconversion in vaccinated animals. Conclusions: This newly formatted CCPP cELISA kit has retained the high specificity of the original kit. It can therefore be used to evaluate the prevalence of CCPP in countries or regions without vaccination programs. It could also be used to monitor the efficacy of vaccination campaigns as high-quality vaccines induce high rates of seroconversion. Keywords: Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, Competitive ELISA, Seroprevalence, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vaccine quality control * Correspondence: [email protected] 1Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD) UMR CMAEE, Montpellier F-34398, France 2INRA, UMR1309 CMAEE, Montpellier F-34398, France Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © 2014 Peyraud et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. Peyraud et al. BMC Veterinary Research 2014, 10:48 Page 2 of 9 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/48 Background the European part of Turkey in 2005 [12] and poses a Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) has been threat to the Balkan countries of the European Union. known as a clinical condition for 140 years [1], but the CCPP has been shown to infect wildlife species held in burden and distribution of this disease remain largely captivity for conservation purposes in Qatar [13] but has unknown. The causal agent of CCPP was first isolated in also been detected in free-ranging wildlife in Tibet [14]. 1976 [2], but it was not given its species name until This is a matter of concern not only for free-ranging en- 1993: M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) dangered species in which CCPP may occur [15], but [3]. Conspicuous macroscopic lesions are observed in also for CCPP-free countries importing wild species for animals with acute disease. These lesions are restricted propagation purposes or for zoological collections. to the pleural cavity and consist of unilateral pleuro- CCPP is difficult to control. The vaccines against pneumonia with profuse pleural effusion, but diagnosis CCPP consist of inactivated Mccp antigen with saponin as may still be difficult. Until the development of specific an adjuvant [16]. If effective, these vaccines should induce PCR assays [4,5], it was difficult to obtain laboratory marked seroconversion, and this need-s to be investigated confirmation of CCPP. Autopsies are rarely performed furher. The antibodies induced by vaccination can inter- on goats dying from the disease and, when samples are fere with the results of disease prevalence studies, but sent to the laboratory for isolation of the causal agent, cELISA could be used to assess the efficacy of vaccination other mycoplasmas, such as M. mycoides subsp. capri campaigns. Vaccination efficacy has been assessed in ex- (Mmc), M. capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and perimental trials, leading to the definition of an optimum M. ovipneumoniae, are often isolated. This is due to the Mccp antigen concentration of 0.15 mg/dose, which yields extremely fastidious growth of Mccp, which is overgrown a protective immune response [17]. by faster growing mycoplasmas. Furthermore, animals The lack of a reliable, commercially available specific are often treated with antibiotics, hampering isolation of ELISA test for detecting Mccp antibodies was recog- the causal agent. Despite great improvements in the for- nized as a key issue during the design of an EU-funded mulation of culture media, the isolation of Mccp remains project aiming to control neglected animal diseases in very difficult [6]. It was thought that the use of PCR for Africa through vaccination (VACNADA). A blocking the molecular detection of Mccp would greatly facilitate ELISA based on the use of a specific monoclonal antibody the diagnosis of CCPP and provide more accurate infor- recognizing Mccp was developed in 1994 [18]. This kit has mation about the prevalence of the disease. recently been modified to obtain a heat-stable kit produced However, there have been very few declarations of to quality assurance standards. We describe here the use of CCPP outbreaks to the OIE in the last 15 years, due to a this new kit to evaluate the prevalence of CCPP in various lack of awareness of this disease and possible confusion countries and to evaluate the seroconversion induced by with other diseases, such as “peste des petits ruminants” the CCPP vaccine. (PPR) or Pasteurella infections. Little is known about the economic impact of CCPP, although participatory Methods epidemiological surveillance, without the need for la- Formatting of the cELISA kit boratory confirmation, may prove a useful approach. For The same components of the kit developed in 1994 [18] example, Turkana pastoralists in Kenya rank CCPP as were used, but the kit was modified in collaboration with one of the principal diseases affecting their goats, to- a private company, IDEXX-Montpellier SAS. The hy- gether with PPR and sarcoptic mange [7]. The impact of bridoma cell line “4.52” developed by CIRAD was revivi- CCPP and the potential threat represented by this dis- fied and subcloned to check its stability. The main ease have been greatly underestimated. objective was then to produce stable precoated plates Until recently, CCPP was believed to be confined to and to design a protocol yielding results similar to those Africa and the Middle East. Its presence in Asia was originally reported, in terms of specificity and sensitivity. confirmed only recently, with the isolation of Mccp Serum samples known to be positive and negative were strains in China [8] and the detection of Mccp by PCR used to achieve this end. in Pakistan [9] and Tajikistan. Molecular epidemiology The final CCPP cELISA kit protocol differed slightly studies have shown that the Mccp strains circulating in from the original published protocol, as it was a strict Asia belong to a specific clade supported by significant competitive assay rather than a blocking assay. We mini- bootstrap values [10]. This indicates that the presence of mized the variability of incubation time by first mixing the disease in Asia is not the result of a recent introduc- diluted sera (1/10) with a fixed quantity of monoclonal tion, which would have resulted in Asian Mccp geno- antibody in a normal non-coated plate and then trans- types closely resembling genotypes found elsewhere. ferring the mixture to a precoated plate and incubating Indeed, it was suggested that CCPP was present in India at 37°C for one hour, with gentle shaking. The plates as early as 1914 [11]. The disease was also recognized in were then incubated for 30 minutes with the conjugate Peyraud et al. BMC Veterinary Research 2014, 10:48 Page 3 of 9 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/48 and 20 minutes with the tetramethyl-benzidine
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Afghanistan-China Belt and Road Initiative
    The Afghanistan-China Belt and Road Initiative By Chris Devonshire-Ellis Region: Asia Global Research, August 22, 2021 Theme: Global Economy, Intelligence Silk Road Briefing 18 August 2021 In-depth Report: AFGHANISTAN All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the “Translate Website” drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). Visit and follow us on Instagram at @crg_globalresearch. *** Potential routes exist along the Wakhan Corridor and via Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, but it is Pakistani access to Kabul that looks the better option – as long as the Taliban can provide stability, develop Afghan society, and refrain from regional aggression. International media has focused on Afghanistan these past few days and rightly so as the appalling situation left behind continues its descent into utter chaos. Little mentioned however has been the possibility of restructuring Afghanistan’s supply and trade chains after twenty years of war. While the Russians will largely provide security in the region, China will provide the financing and help build the infrastructure and encourage industrialization and trade in return for peace and security. People tend not to fight when they are in the process of transforming their lives for the better, and Beijing understands this, although much of the social problems are the Taliban’s responsibility to solve. There are several options for China to instigate trade routes with Afghanistan. In this article I discuss the Wakhan Corridor, the finger of Afghanistan that reaches east to the Chinese border, existing trade routes via Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and the potential to further develop the Karakorum Highway route through the Khunjerab Pass and ultimately via Peshawar to Kabul.
    [Show full text]
  • The Amu Darya River – a Review
    AMARTYA KUMAR BHATTACHARYA and D. M. P. KARTHIK The Amu Darya river – a review Introduction Source confluence Kerki he Amu Darya, also called the Amu river and elevation 326 m (1,070 ft) historically known by its Latin name, Oxus, is a major coordinates 37°06'35"N, 68°18'44"E T river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of the Mouth Aral sea Vakhsh and Panj rivers, at Qal`eh-ye Panjeh in Afghanistan, and flows from there north-westwards into the southern remnants location Amu Darya Delta, Uzbekistan of the Aral Sea. In ancient times, the river was regarded as the elevation 28 m (92 ft) boundary between Greater Iran and Turan. coordinates 44°06'30"N, 59°40'52"E In classical antiquity, the river was known as the Oxus in Length 2,620 km (1,628 mi) Latin and Oxos in Greek – a clear derivative of Vakhsh, the Basin 534,739 km 2 (206,464 sq m) name of the largest tributary of the river. In Sanskrit, the river Discharge is also referred to as Vakshu. The Avestan texts too refer to 3 the river as Yakhsha/Vakhsha (and Yakhsha Arta (“upper average 2,525 m /s (89,170 cu ft/s) Yakhsha”) referring to the Jaxartes/Syr Darya twin river to max 5,900 m 3 /s (208,357 cu ft/s) Amu Darya). The name Amu is said to have come from the min 420 m 3 /s (14,832 cu ft/s) medieval city of Amul, (later, Chahar Joy/Charjunow, and now known as Türkmenabat), in modern Turkmenistan, with Darya Description being the Persian word for “river”.
    [Show full text]
  • An International Collaborative Study to Determine the Prevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia by Monoclonal Antibody-Ba
    An international collaborative study to determine the prevalence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia by monoclonal antibody-based cELISA Armelle Peyraud, François Poumarat, Florence Tardy, Lucía Manso-Silván, Karomatullo Hamroev, Tillo Tilloev, Mullojon Amirbekov, Karim Tounkara, Charles Bodjo, Hezron Wesonga, et al. To cite this version: Armelle Peyraud, François Poumarat, Florence Tardy, Lucía Manso-Silván, Karomatullo Hamroev, et al.. An international collaborative study to determine the prevalence of contagious caprine pleurop- neumonia by monoclonal antibody-based cELISA. BMC Veterinary Research, BioMed Central, 2014, 10, pp.48. 10.1186/1746-6148-10-48. hal-01274573 HAL Id: hal-01274573 https://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-01274573 Submitted on 21 Jun 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution| 4.0 International License Peyraud et al. BMC Veterinary Research 2014, 10:48 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/10/48 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access An international collaborative study to determine
    [Show full text]
  • The Pakistan Factor in China's Afghanistan
    THE PAKISTAN FACTOR IN CHINA’S AFGHANISTAN POLICY: EMERGING REGIONAL FAULTLINES AMID US WITHDRAWAL THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE VINAY KAURA JULY 2021 WWW.MEI.EDU ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE The Middle East Institute is a center of knowledge dedicated to narrowing divides between the peoples of the Middle East and the United States. With over 70 years’ experience, MEI has established itself as a credible, non-partisan source of insight and policy analysis on all matters concerning the Middle East. MEI is distinguished by its holistic approach to the region and its deep understanding of the Middle East’s political, economic and cultural contexts. Through the collaborative work of its three centers — Policy & Research, Arts & Culture, and Education — MEI provides current and future leaders with the resources necessary to build a future of mutual understanding. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vinay Kaura, PhD, is a Non-Resident Scholar with MEI’s Afghanistan & Pakistan Program, an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Affairs and Security Studies at the Sardar Patel University of Police, Security, and Criminal Justice in Rajasthan, India, and the Deputy Director at the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. Cover photo: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts the 4th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Guiyang, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, June 3, 2021. Photo by Yang Wenbin/Xinhua via Getty Images. CONTENTS Introduction 4 China’s interests and actions 6 Pakistan’s evolving interests in Afghanistan 9 China’s need for Pakistan 11 Mutual rivalry with India 12 Pakistan’s facilitation role 13 Geopolitics of the Wakhan Corridor 14 Challenges for China 15 American flexibility 15 TTP’s alliance with Baluch separatists 15 Fragmented peace process and Pakistani-Afghan 15 discord India’s options 17 Conclusion 19 Endnotes 20 3 Photo above: Representatives from China and Pakistan sign cooperation documents during the ninth Joint Cooperation Committee meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nov.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping Fragile Areas: Case Studies from Central Asia
    Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance Mapping Fragile Areas: Case Studies from Central Asia Elizaveta Chmykh Eugenia Dorokhova Hine-Wai Loose Kristina Sutkaityte Rebecca Mikova Richard Steyne Sarabeth Murray Edited by dr Grazvydas Jasutis Mapping Fragile Areas: Case Studies from Central Asia About DCAF DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the se- curity of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and gender equality. Since its founding in 2000, DCAF has contributed to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states, and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity-building of both state and non-state security sector stakeholders. DCAF’s Foundation Council is comprised of representatives of about 60 member states and the Canton of Geneva. Active in over 80 countries, DCAF is interna- tionally recognized as one of the world’s leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. For more information visit www.dcaf.ch and follow us on Twitter @DCAF_Geneva. The views and opinions expressed in this study
    [Show full text]
  • RET 36 Cover +
    Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines numéro trente-six — Octobre 2016 Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines numéro trente-six — Octobre 2016 ISSN 1768-2959 Directeur : Jean-Luc Achard. Comité de rédaction : Alice Travers, Jean-Luc Achard. Comité de lecture : Ester Bianchi (Università degli Studi di Perugia), Fabienne Jagou (EFEO), Rob Mayer (Oriental Institute, University of Oxford), Fernand Meyer (CNRS-EPHE), Françoise Pommaret (CNRS), Ramon Prats (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona), Charles Ramble (EPHE, CNRS), Françoise Robin (INALCO), Brigitte Steinman (Université de Lille), Alice Travers (CNRS), Jean-Luc Achard (CNRS). Périodicité La périodicité de la Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines est généralement bi-annuelle, les mois de parution étant, sauf indication contraire, Octobre et Avril. Les contributions doivent parvenir au moins six (6) mois à l’avance. Les dates de proposition d’articles au comité de lecture sont Novembre pour une parution en Avril, et Mai pour une parution en Octobre. Participation La participation est ouverte aux membres statutaires des équipes CNRS, à leurs membres associés, aux doctorants et aux chercheurs non-affiliés. Les articles et autres contributions sont proposées aux membres du comité de lecture et sont soumis à l’approbation des membres du comité de rédaction. Les articles et autres contributions doivent être inédits ou leur ré- édition doit être justifiée et soumise à l’approbation des membres du comité de lecture. Les documents doivent parvenir sous la forme de fichiers Word, envoyés à l’adresse du directeur ([email protected]). Comptes-rendus Contacter le directeur de publication, à l’adresse électronique suivante : [email protected] Langues Les langues acceptées dans la revue sont le français (en priorité), l’anglais, l’allemand, l’italien, l’espagnol, le tibétain et le chinois.
    [Show full text]
  • Little Bridges: AAN's New Report on the Slowly Growing Links Between Afghanistan and the Central Asia Republics
    Little Bridges: AAN's new report on the slowly growing links between Afghanistan and the Central Asia republics Author : AAN Team Published: 27 June 2014 Downloaded: 10 September 2018 Download URL: https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/little-bridges-aans-new-report-on-the-slowly-growing-links-between-afghanistan- and-the-central-asia-republics/?format=pdf Reports about Afghanistan and its neighbours to the north usually lump the five former Soviet Central Asia republics together as an undifferentiated block - ‘the Stans’. Such an approach does not reflect the reality of five countries with very different, mainly bilateral and very local relationships with Afghanistan. The distortion has only been worsened by the way big top-down projects, like Heart of Asia, have imagined a region – with a lot of fanfare and, not surprisingly, little actual impact. A different approach has been taken in a major new AAN report by Christian Bleuer and Said Reza Kazemi, “Between Co-Operation and Insulation” (download here). It looks at what is actually happening on the ground, in terms of politics, security and business and brings together diverse sources of information into one report and its annexes. Despite the many common historic, ethnic and religious ties between Afghans and their neighbours to the north, Afghanistan and the countries of Central Asia remain strangers, unable to overcome the numerous barriers to more substantive connections. On the Afghan side of the border, different groups of people (political-military figures, government authorities, traders, 1 / 5 students, former migrants and other local people), mainly in northern areas, do interact with neighbouring Central Asia, albeit on a restricted basis.
    [Show full text]
  • Zorkul Nature Reserve
    Zorkul Nature Reserve General features Flora Vegetation is sparse, primarily consisting of high-mountain Country: Tajikistan desert cryophytic meadow and wetland species. The floristic Date of establishment: 1972 composition does not exceed 250–300 species. Area: 1,610 km2 Geographic location: Latitude: 37°30’N; Fauna Longitude: 73°45’E The reserve has important populations of mammals including IUCN category: I long-tailed marmot (Marmota caudata), juniper vole (Microtus juldaschi), Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii), Overview Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), snow leopard (Panthera Zorkul Nature Reserve (ZNR) is located in south-eastern uncia), grey wolf (Canis lupus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, bordering weasel (Mustela altaica), and brown bear (Ursus arctos). Afghanistan’s Wakhan District. The reserve occupies a 320 BirdLife International has declared the reserve an Important km wide valley between the southern Alichur and Vahan Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant populations ridges of the eastern Pamir Mountains. It lies east of the of several bird species – either as residents or as provincial capital of Khorog at an altitude of 4,000–5,460 overwintering, breeding, or passage migrants – including masl. The landscape consists of gentle slopes of sparsely Tibetan snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), Himalayan vegetated alpine steppe. A core feature of the reserve is snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis), and bar-headed the 3,900 ha freshwater Zorkul Lake (4,125 masl). The goose (Anser indicus). area was initially managed as a protected area for the conservation of bar-headed geese and was upgraded to a Threats full nature reserve in 2000. Habitat degradation and biodiversity loss due to illegal logging, fuelwood harvesting, and the timber trade.
    [Show full text]
  • WAKHAN & the AFGHAN PAMIR
    WAKHANIN &THE the FOOTSTEPS AFGHAN OF MARCO PAMIR POLO 68ºE 70ºE 72ºE 74ºE Wakhan & the Afghan Pamir Dushanbe WAKHAN FACTS UZBEKISTAN 38ºN TAJIKISTAN COUNTRY Afghanistan Snowcapped 7000m Khorog PROVINCE Hindukush peaks beckon Badakhshan true mountain lovers Faizabad Kyrgyz nomads in the heart Khandud DISTRICT of the Afghan Pamir preserve Sarhad-e Broghil Qila-e Panja Wakhan HIGHLIGHTS a vanishing way of life Taluqan Kunduz see route map Rare and spectacular Ishkashim NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT wildlife roam isolated high Qazideh elevation valleys Noshaq Kabul 7492m Sparkling mountain lakes of NEAREST DOMESTIC AIRPORT Zorkol and Chaqmaqtin feed S H Central Asia’s mighty Oxus River U Faizabad K 36ºN Ancient Silk Road caravan U history inscribed in petroglyphs Gilgit GATEWAY TOWN Chitral PAKISTAN showcases the archeology Ishkashim UZBEKIST KAZAKHSTAN TURKMENIST DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS Khandud A KYRGYZSTAN N A MAIN VILLAGES N TAJIKISKISKIKISSTAN Qazideh, Qila-e Panja, CHINA IRAN Goz Khun, Sarhad-e Broghil STAN POPULATION approximately 12,000 “We were glad to seek shelter from N Jalalabad PAKISTAN in 1500 households the keen air of these breezy Kabul NEPAL altitudes in the felt tents of the INDIA LANGUAGES Peshawar Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir.” Persian, Wakhi and Kyrgyz 34ºN KHYBER Sir Aurel Stein 0 100 200 300 Kilometres PASS Islamabad 0 20 40 60 80 100 200 Miles © 2006 Mareile Paley DISCOVERING WAKHAN WAKHAN IS A LAND SO REMOTE THAT FEW OUTSIDERS HAVE EVER VENTURED THERE. YET THROUGH WAKHAN “In the middle of the Pamir valley is FLOWED A VITAL BRANCH OF THE GRAND TRANS-ASIAN ARTERY KNOWN AS THE SILK ROAD, LINKING EAST TO WEST.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bridge to Connect Asia
    The Bridge to Connect Asia BY MIRWAIS PARSA • NOV EMBER 20, 2017 f built, the Wakhan corridor would strengthen trade between China, Pakistan, Afghanistan I and Tajikistan, bringing stability to the region. China, an economic giant, has started the move to revitalize the ancient Silk Road. Its ambitious Belt and Road (B&R) initiative, which includes plans for a Silk Road economic belt and the 21st-century maritime Silk Road, aims to connect continental Asia, Europe and Africa . The project has an estimated investment requirement of $5 trillion in infrastructure across 65 countries . A major B&R investment in South Asia is the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which connects the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region of China to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port. An important part of the CPEC is the reconstruction and upgrading of the Karakorum Highway, a 1,300 km paved roadway across the Karakoram Mountains connecting Kashgar to Abbottabad. The highway, which rst opened to trac in 1986 , serves as an important trade and transit corridor between China and Pakistan. It has shortened the distance between China and the Middle East from 15,900 km via the Malacca Strait to a 3,700 km land route through the Khunjarab pass . Between China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan, inside the Pamir Knot, lies the Wakhan corridor. This strip of land sandwiched between the four countries was created as a buer between the territories of British India and Tsarist Russia in the 19th century, which was then formally demarcated between the Kingdom of Afghanistan and the Chinese People’s Republic in November 1963.
    [Show full text]
  • The Journey to the Afghan Pamir
    A JOURNEY TO THE AFGHAN PAMIPAMIRR The Forbidden Corridor of Wakhan Go Hirai Introduction On July 19, 2001, I stood on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria (Zorkul). It lay like a pure blue belt stretching westward between two sepia-colored mountain ranges running in parallel. The altitude was 4,200 m above sea level according to an altimeter (hereinafter expressed as ca. xxxx m). This documentary report is on my third visit to the Wakhan area in the Afghan Pamir since 1999. This journey was successfully completed under a guard provided by Commandant General Masood, who was assassinated by Taliban terrorists in September 2001. The Afghan (hereafter abbreviated as A-) Pamir refers to the east depth of the Wakhan area which is said to occupy one-tenth of the whole Pamir and consists of three Pamirs: Qalan (Great), Khurd (Little) and Wakhan. The area is adjacent to Tadzhikistan, Pakistan and China. At the end of 19th century, it was decided that the area should belong to Afghan territory as a buffer zone among the three nations mentioned above (i.e. Imperial Russia, British India and China). Since the beginning of the 20th century, entry into the area has been under strict control. To the best of my knowledge, only A. Stein (1915), H.W. Tilman (1947), R.& S. Michaud (1967), Kabul University (1971), S.& A. Gladiew (1968), et al. walked into the area. They stepped mostly into Khurd Pamir area, except for A. Stein. Ishkashim – Qala・I・Panja - Sarhad After stopping at Ishkashim at the western extremity of Wakhan by crossing the border, we arrived on June 20 by a 4WD car at Qala-i-Panja, 100 km from Ishkashim to the east of the River Oxus (Amu Darya) along its left bank.
    [Show full text]
  • Badakhshan Provincial Profile
    Regional Rural Economic Regeneration Strategies (RRERS) GRM Provincial Profile - Badakhshan - 1. Natural Resources (ANDS Sector 3) Two of the five watersheds in the Amu Darya River Basin, the Panj and Kokcha watersheds, are located in Badakhshan. The Panj watershed, which originates from the high Pamir, drains many rivers on its route. The Ab-i-Pamir and the Wakhan Rod combine to form the Panj river which is also fed by the Sheva, Darwaz, Kufab and Ragh rivers in Badakhshan. The largest lake of the Panj watershed is the Sheva lake, which covers an area of 5.67 Sq.Km. The rangeland, which accounts for about 64 percent of the watershed dominates the Panj watershed. Permanent snow cover accounts for about 26 percent. The irrigated land accounts for about 0.7 percent of the watershed. The Kokcha drains from the high Hindu Kush Mountains of the Kuran wa Munjan district of Badakhshan. The Tagab-i-Anjuman and the Tagab-i-Munjan combine to form the Kokcha. The Warduj river joins Kokcha below Baharak. The Kishim river joins Kokcha, which eventually joins the Amu Darya at Takhar. Rangeland dominates this watershed too, accounting for about 60 percent. Permanent snow cover accounts for 12 percent. Irrigated land accounts for 3 percent and the rain-fed cultivation accounts for 18 percent. Afghanistan uses only a small portion of its entitlement in the Panj River. Any expansion of the development activity, resulting in increased use of its entitlement, would have an impact on the water availability in the Amu basin. This would have an impact on the Aral Sea conservation mechanism that is in place.
    [Show full text]