Afghanistan Reconnected Advocacy and Outreach Mission to Tajikistan; Dushanbe, October 12-14, 2015

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The EastWest Institute (EWI), with the support of the Embassy of Germany in Dushanbe, brought a delegation of senior political and business practitioners from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Turkey to Dushanbe.

WI Vice-President for Regional region poses a significant hurdle in Security, Ambassador Martin continuing economic development. EFleischer, led the delegation, While the Taliban regains ground, which met and discussed with a branch of the Islamic State high-ranking Tajik government emerges in Afghanistan and national officials on ways to enhance cross- reconciliation progresses slowly, border economic cooperation with Afghanistan and its neighbors remain Afghanistan and the entire region. The far away from a common approach mission to Dushanbe was part of a toward countering violent extremism. series of visits to the region, aimed at advocating policy recommendations Despite these setbacks in security towards reforms to unlock the and a lack of regional coordination region’s economic potential with While the Taliban in regards to extremism, substantial relevant decision-makers and regains ground, a progress has been made on some ultimately contribute to a secure and branch of the Islamic projects involving cross-border stable Afghanistan. economic cooperation, such as State emerges on CASA 1000. These types of The mission to Dushanbe allowed in Afghanistan projects have figured in EWI’s policy EWI’s group of senior experts, along and national recommendations throughout with top-level Tajik interlocutors, to the duration of the “Afghanistan take stock of the first three-quarters reconciliation Reconnected” program. of the year of Afghanistan’s post- progresses slowly, 2014 development, focusing on While in Dushanbe, EWI forged a the challenges and opportunities Afghanistan and its partnership with the Center for for Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbors remain Strategic Research under the neighbors. far away from a president of the Republic of Tajikistan. In a workshop with the Center, the The mission took place at a time common approach EWI delegation had the opportunity when significant challenges continue toward countering to have in-depth discussions about to face Afghanistan, affecting not violent extremism. Tajik perspectives on security and just the country itself, but the greater cooperation with Afghanistan. These Central Asian neighborhood. As discussions indicated that, despite assessed by one Afghan expert, the already existing electricity export “The ultimate goal of extremists is from Tajikistan to Afghanistan, not just Afghanistan but an Islamic Tajikistan is reluctant to become state in Central Asia which, like directly involved in the stabilization in Iraq and Syria, transgresses process of its neighbor. Rather, the and ignores state borders.” The country relies on regional structures crumbling security situation in the such as the Shanghai Cooperation

2 www.eastwest.ngo Organization and the Collective agreements. In particular, the Minister Security Treaty Organization for expressed hopes for the extension its security vis-à-vis the growing to Tajikistan of the Afghanistan instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement To facilitate (APPTA). The minister also referred to However, as H.E. Minister Sherali trade from other the difficulty in further developing the Gadzhalzoda, Minister of international air transport sector in Transport, pointed out, Tajikistan directions, the Tajikistan; the relatively small number has an interest in becoming a transit Tajik government of passengers flying in and out of hub in the region. This transformation is planning major the country reduces profit margins is requiring Tajikistan to undertake for potential investors. However, significant reforms, which are made infrastructure thanks to the support of the French necessary by the country’s past in projects and is government, the Dushanbe airport the USSR, during which time goods open to regional was recently upgraded to become were delivered only from the north. To an international hub, allowing for facilitate trade from other directions, trade and transport Tajikistan to serve as a connection the Tajik government is planning agreements. during longer-haul flights across the major infrastructure projects and is region. open to regional trade and transport

www.eastwest.ngo 3 One of Tajikistan’s main interests H.E. Mr. Nematullo for its economic growth is its ready Khikmatullozoda, Minister for supply of resources, specifically Economic Development and Trade, energy and water. This was reiterated, quoting President Emomali highlighted by H.E. Jamshed Rahmon, Tajikistan’s interest in Shoimzoda, Deputy Minister of regional economic cooperation, and Energy and Water Resources, who particularly in having Afghanistan as announced that the CASA 1000 The CASA 1000 a stable market for its exports. The project is now moving swiftly and project is now minister outlined the government’s should be completed by the end of moving swiftly efforts to harmonize Tajikistan’s 2018. Tajikistan’s “10-10-10” strategy national legislation with international for the coming years envisions and should be trade standards and recognized that benefiting from its electricity exports completed by there is room for further institutional by increasing transmission capacity, the end of 2018. change in the country. Moreover, increasing exports and decreasing he announced Tajikistan’s interest energy waste. While no natural gas Tajikistan’s in developing connectivity towards for commercial use has been found “10-10-10” strategy seaports in the region in order to gain in the country to date, electricity for the coming more access to global markets. For exports to and through Afghanistan future development of the country’s represent a fundamental prospect years envisions economy, the Minister recognized for the country’s future. As part of benefiting from its the importance of value added chain the CASA 1000 project, a tender electricity exports mechanisms in the region, as well for the construction of an energy as for the strengthening of border transmission line through Afghanistan by increasing infrastructure. has already been launched, and five transmission bids have already been received. capacity, increasing Addressing the plenary meeting of Asked about the security concerns the ‘International Entrepreneurship connected to the construction of such exports and Forum – Dushanbe 2015’, EWI’s structures in Afghanistan, the Deputy decreasing energy Fleischer elaborated on the Minister announced that not only are waste. interdependence of security and these types of infrastructures not economic development. He cautioned usually targeted during conflict, but that some countries in the region that Tajikistan is asking Afghanistan seem to take the threat of violent to guarantee the security of the extremism too lightly, or more transmission line in exchange for precisely, believe that they can face transit fees. this threat with a national approach

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instead of genuine cross-border as from regional and international cooperation. organizations. The group of eminent experts has been meeting since On the other hand, Fleischer warned 2013 in Istanbul, Islamabad, New against slowing down efforts towards Delhi and Berlin to determine and regional economic integration in light promote opportunities for economic of the worsening security situation. growth both in Afghanistan and in the He also appealed to the Tajik and region, complementing the “Heart neighboring governments to lower of Asia” or “Istanbul Process.” The visa barriers, as they clearly impede “Visa regimes will Afghanistan Reconnected Process, cross-border trade. mostly keep those also known under the name of “Abu Dhabi Process”, is co-financed by “Visa regimes,” Fleischer said, “will people out that the governments of the United Arab mostly keep those people out that you want in, namely Emirates and Germany. The next you want in, namely traders and traders and tourists. step in the process is an advocacy tourists. But smugglers and terrorists and outreach mission to Kabul, will come in elsewhere over the border But smugglers and Afghanistan in November2015. anyway.” terrorists will come in elsewhere over The current phase of the Afghanistan Through the Afghanistan Reconnected Process, named Reconnected Process, EWI has the border anyway.” “Businesses Take Action to Unlock established a network of high-level Trade in the Region”, will conclude representatives from governments, mid-2016. However, it is likely parliaments, and the private sector that Afghanistan’s security and from Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan, economy will need the attention of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, the international community for a Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, the number of years to come. U.A.E., the U.S., and Europe, as well

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