Here Is The Most Unreported Story About Afghanistan: The Booming Economy

Modernizing: An Afghan technician working at Tolo (Dawn) 23 television in Kabul, which began broadcasting this month. REUTERS

Booming Afghan Biz: One Key To Long Term Peace -- New York Post

What's the most under-re ported reason to feel opti mistic about Afghanistan? Its booming economy.

Afghanistan has averaged over 10 percent growth a year since the Taliban's fall late in 2001. That's as fast as China or India (if from a much lower base). And a recent survey shows that, despite the ongoing war, Afghan firms are doing well and feeling hopeful.

They should be: Money is pouring into infrastructure improvements, job creation and corporate investments that are starting to transform one of the world's poorest economies. Big mineral finds have even opened the possibility of self-sustaining growth -- if Afghanistan can achieve reforms and stability.

Read more ....

My Comment: Some of my friends who read this blog have been on my case that I have been consistently dark and pessimistic on Afghanistan for the past few years .... OK .... I know that they have a point .... so the post above is a story that reveals some hope for the country.

Update: Consider this the first of many posts on what is going right in Afghanistan. I will summarize and update these stories every Sunday night (21:00 EST) .... starting this week (August 1).