Concerning the Afghan Mineral and Ore Wealth

Afghan Network, accessed 11/10/2017

From my perspective, I would suggest a sovereign wealth fund, modeled after the Norwegian system of the sovereign wealth fund (adapted for Afghan social needs). Peace in Central Asia could be created, which could enable China's trade expansion west. Iran could also benefit from the overseas trade access, and the possible "pacification" of Afghanistan on more cordial terms with Iran than have historically been present.

The key feature that would make this work is the strengthening of Afghan public institutions on the local levels, such that communities can coordinate and control their own local wealth from foreign private and public interests. This is an opportunity for more than poppy and heroin production, one that could enable the peace that has been missing from this region for so long.  Without permitting Afghan citizens to share in the wealth that can be produced, it is doubtful that the wealth will be accessible to the larger global economy.  Even if the government were to proclaim such a system, it wouldn't be permitted to last if it were not honestly and faithfully executed for the citizens' benefit.

Therefore, in order to do this, the Afghan people will have to permit it. Their ecosystem must be protected for global, regional, and local interests, and the resources used carefully due to their finite nature in the global economy.  The wealth from that investment by the Afghan sovereign wealth fund must benefit individual people and families first and foremost, starting from the many at the bottom, up to the very wealthy at the top who already have last.  This could be a chance to experiment with a different set of institutions and logic to development and governing in an international context. That would certainly, I think, be preferable to the expensive and bloody quagmire it currently is. There is a lot to lose. But, I'm certain that doing nothing will only lead to more violence, exploitation, and misery. You only need to look at another country with vast mineral wealth, and very few indigenous public institutions that are strong enough and legitimate enough to protect the wealth and the environment for its citizens for evidence of this.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo is an excellent example of such a country where foreign private firms profit off of the misery and exploitation of the local citizens with the governments' tacit permission or inability to protect.  I think it would be against the interests of all nations in Asia to have the continental center be at war within itself.

In short, the path to resolving the conflict in Afghanistan depends on the strength and effectiveness of public institutions and public actors. I think the Afghan people are capable and competent enough culturally and socially to develop positive institutions from the bottom up, using many of the tools they already have. The question becomes whether other nations are capable of allowing a mutually beneficial peace to develop in the region based around effective and strong societies and ecosystems. We can do a better job in our world for ourselves and our societies. Are we strong, kind, and wise enough to do what needs to be done? Or are we really that slavish to some people who's only core is greed and pettiness?  I honestly don't know.