Closed for business as Afghanistan awaits election
Reuters
2014-05-16
Views 117
It's a waiting game in Afghanistan.
Businesses have ground to a halt across much of the country -- hit by political uncertainty as the country braces for another round of presidential elections, and concerns about security as the last foreign combat troops leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) OWNER OF THE CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY, SAAD MALOK, SAYING:
"The construction work has recently stopped in Afghanistan. We are thinking of changing our business because we invested a lot of money buying the machinery, but all the works are on standby."
Foreign combat troops are set to withdraw at the end of the year. A Bilateral Security Agreement that would allow a small force of U.S. troops to stay beyond December 31, is up in the air awaiting the new President.
The economy has taken a hit with GDP expected to sharply contract after hitting a peak in 2012.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) MONEY EXCHANGE BUSINESSMAN FARHAD JAN, SAYING:
"We call on the government to quickly final
Businesses have ground to a halt across much of the country -- hit by political uncertainty as the country braces for another round of presidential elections, and concerns about security as the last foreign combat troops leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) OWNER OF THE CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY, SAAD MALOK, SAYING:
"The construction work has recently stopped in Afghanistan. We are thinking of changing our business because we invested a lot of money buying the machinery, but all the works are on standby."
Foreign combat troops are set to withdraw at the end of the year. A Bilateral Security Agreement that would allow a small force of U.S. troops to stay beyond December 31, is up in the air awaiting the new President.
The economy has taken a hit with GDP expected to sharply contract after hitting a peak in 2012.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) MONEY EXCHANGE BUSINESSMAN FARHAD JAN, SAYING:
"We call on the government to quickly final
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