Afghan Industrial Capacity jump-started by NTM-A

Examples of Afghan workers building or working in new industrial facilities in Kabul. (Photos by G. A. Volb)

It's all about the economy folks! We've heard it all before -- and in Afghanistan it's no different. Improve industrial capacity, put people back to work and the hold extremist organizations have on the population diminishes.

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan is doing its part to rebuild the industrial capacity here. New industry, initially in support of Afghan security force needs, will undoubtedly diversify and lead to production of commercial goods for local and international consumption.

This is no easy task given the decades of war that ravished the economy here, but successes are visible. These photos show only a few shining examples of what can happen if the right folks help provide a road map by which to build from. And in the end, it makes little difference what the motivation is to rebuild industry since, once enabled, it'll take off on its own.

It is simply unrealistic to think that such an enterprise would take five to 10 years when it took nearly 30 to deconstruct. Patience, here of all places, is a virtue. Stay the course or return in another 10 to 15 years to readdress what should have been dealt with today.

Assuming the partnered members continue to support such endeavors, I think time will prove what a truly masterpiece the effort was.