Taliban have a free ride in Kunduz Oct 16, 2009
"The US political interests in Central Asia are no secret. The United States can achieve its goals only if the Taliban shift to the other side of the Oxus [the Amu Darya River, which forms the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and Uzbekistan]. Then American forces can go into Central Asia in the name of the war on terror.". Haidar's version seems to accord with the residents of Chahr Dara district. (Asia Times Online)
Let slip the dogs of war Sep 26, 2009
" Gromov famously walked across a bridge on the Amu Darya River, Afghanistan's northern border, to be the last Russian soldier to leave. Early this year, he marked the 20th anniversary of the withdrawal with his observation of an invaluable lesson learned in Afghanistan: "It has been and always will be impossible to solve political problems using force. " Thomas Ruttig, an analyst with the Afghanistan Analysts' Network, says: ''This time the other side is more dangerous. The mujahideen did not... (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
A dangerous new Afghan road opens Sep 18, 2009
The Taliban and their allies disrupting the vital peace south of the Amu Darya River is thus creating a more complex strategic environment for leaders like top US military commander General David Petraeus and the chief man in Kabul, General Stanley McChrystal. With the war no longer confined to rural Pashtunistan, simply choreographing new supply routes to Western forces may not be enough. (Asia Times Online)
China boosts gas importsfrom Turkmenistan Jul 2, 2009
Under another agreement signed on the same occasion, China's Petrochina International and Turkmenistan's Agency for Development of Natural Resources will expand the extraction of gas and condensate in the onshore Bagtyarlik contract area and other gas fields on the right bank of the Amu Darya River. That area in eastern Turkmenistan is the main supply source for the pipeline being built to China. (Asia Times Online)
Soldiers' tale Mar 10, 2009
On the plain white bridge spanning the Amu Darya river, only a lone car rolled by every few minutes or so. And then, a freight train came thundering down the rails, shattering an eerie quiet, allowing us to imagine a time centuries ago when mighty armies invaded across this border. (BBC News)
