NATO Supply Routes Through the South Caucasus - The Jamestown Foundation
Khyber Pass - Breaking World News - The New York Times
Theres trouble brewing somewhere and we aren't getting the full story.
If the pass is impassible that means someone somewhere is not telling us whats happening. (maybe its just because winter is coming but I am still thinking something is wrong).
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 168
September 15, 2009 03:11 PM Age: 1 hrs
Category: Eurasia Daily Monitor, Russia, Home Page, Foreign Policy, Military/Security, South Caucasus , Azerbaijan , Georgia, Armenia, Featured
By: Tamerlan Vahabov
As the situation in the Khyber Pass deteriorates the region of the South Caucasus is becoming an increasingly viable option for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) non-military supply routes to Afghanistan. In March 9-11, transportation and logistics experts from Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan met in Baku to discuss the issues that would facilitate the shipment of goods to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan through the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) (Polit Pulse, March 9).
There are two main routes that are being considered for the shipment of goods to Afghanistan: the first is Poti (Georgia) - Baku (Azerbaijan) - Aktau (Kazakhstan) - Navoi/Termez (Uzbekistan); and the second is Baku (Azerbaijan) -Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) (Otechestvo, April 14). Generally, the South Caucasus route has become a viable option because of the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan's Khyber Pass region. The route is also important because of the potential unreliability of the Russian position on supply routes on its territory (Geopolitika, January 12).
September 15, 2009 03:11 PM Age: 1 hrs
Category: Eurasia Daily Monitor, Russia, Home Page, Foreign Policy, Military/Security, South Caucasus , Azerbaijan , Georgia, Armenia, Featured
By: Tamerlan Vahabov
As the situation in the Khyber Pass deteriorates the region of the South Caucasus is becoming an increasingly viable option for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) non-military supply routes to Afghanistan. In March 9-11, transportation and logistics experts from Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan met in Baku to discuss the issues that would facilitate the shipment of goods to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan through the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) (Polit Pulse, March 9).
There are two main routes that are being considered for the shipment of goods to Afghanistan: the first is Poti (Georgia) - Baku (Azerbaijan) - Aktau (Kazakhstan) - Navoi/Termez (Uzbekistan); and the second is Baku (Azerbaijan) -Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) (Otechestvo, April 14). Generally, the South Caucasus route has become a viable option because of the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan's Khyber Pass region. The route is also important because of the potential unreliability of the Russian position on supply routes on its territory (Geopolitika, January 12).
The Khyber Pass has been a critical trade and military gateway since the time of Alexander the Great, but like much of western Pakistan it has been besieged by the Taliban.
More than 80 percent of the supplies for American and coalition forces in Afghanistan flow through Pakistan. Attacks aimed at choking the supply lines have become increasingly frequent and brazen, despite the presence of Pakistani security forces in the area. Taliban guerrillas who dominate the northwestern Pakistani tribal areas have pushed deeper into the Khyber region, burning hundreds of NATO supply trucks in Peshawar and carrying out deadly attacks on NATO convoys. Many truckers had already quit driving through the pass because of the danger.
NATO officials have said the militants have so far not interrupted their supplies. But they have acknowledged that suppressing the militants or finding alternative routes is critical, especially as the American troop deployment to Afghanistan is expected to as much as double this year to 60,000. The American military is scrambling to line up alternative routes into Afghanistan through Russia and Central Asia.
More than 80 percent of the supplies for American and coalition forces in Afghanistan flow through Pakistan. Attacks aimed at choking the supply lines have become increasingly frequent and brazen, despite the presence of Pakistani security forces in the area. Taliban guerrillas who dominate the northwestern Pakistani tribal areas have pushed deeper into the Khyber region, burning hundreds of NATO supply trucks in Peshawar and carrying out deadly attacks on NATO convoys. Many truckers had already quit driving through the pass because of the danger.
NATO officials have said the militants have so far not interrupted their supplies. But they have acknowledged that suppressing the militants or finding alternative routes is critical, especially as the American troop deployment to Afghanistan is expected to as much as double this year to 60,000. The American military is scrambling to line up alternative routes into Afghanistan through Russia and Central Asia.
If the pass is impassible that means someone somewhere is not telling us whats happening. (maybe its just because winter is coming but I am still thinking something is wrong).
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