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Natural resource based development plan for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of War Ravaged Afghanistan
Dr. Narpat Singh Rathore Associate Professor, Department of Geography M.L.Sukhadia University, Udaipur - 313001 (Raj.) India E-mail: rathorens@yahoo.com Tel: + 91 294 426548 Fax: + 91 294 415200
Study Area :-
The study area lies between 290 to 390 N latitudes and 610 to 720 E longitudes (Fig.1). The Afghanistan occupies a strategic position in Asia with its borders touching Pakistan in the south and south - east, Iran in the West, China, Tibet and Pak-occupied Indian Kashmir in the East, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north. The Afghanistan has a total area of about 6.83 lakh sq. Kms.. The country has nearly 9195Kms. of border but has no sea coast. It is a country of rugged mountains and semi-desert plains with an extreme plateau type of climate. The main range of Hindu-kush rises to more than 6000 metres in the northern. The central backbone effectively divides Afghanistan into three major regions. The Helmand river is the longest (1007 Kms.) and significant to Afghanistan. Physical Features: - Afghanistan is occupied by lofty mountains and elevated plateaus, plains, rivers, desert lakes etc. (Fig. 2). It may be divided into six distinguished physiographic regions: (1) Afghan Turkistan, or Bacteria (2) Hindu Kush constitutes a mountain complex (3) Badakhshan occupies the north-east of Afghanistan. (4) Kabulistan is a convenient name for the series of alluvial plains, which occupy the region round the capital, south of the Hindu Kush. (5) Hazara is mountainous region. (6) Desert is located in the west and south west part of Afghanistan. Research Methodology and Data Base:- A detailed inventory of natural resources along with the socio-economic condition is a pre requisite to achieve target oriented goals for development in general and developmental planning at village level in particular. To this an attempt is made to follow a standardised methodological framework. Multi dates Satellite imageries of IRS-1C, Landsat, NOVA & IKONOS for the years of 1999 to 2001 on 1:250,000 scale was used. Visual interpretation techniques were applied for preparation of development plan for Afghanistan. The old topographical sheets on 1:250,000 scale and maps were also used for this study. Development plan for Afghanistan: - Unfortunately, however, due to war most of Afghanistan's mountains have become almost degraded hill systems of the world. The immediate need for hill area development programme is there so that the rural people can get employment. A massive disorder in the 
FIG. 1 Location Map of Afghanistan availability of even the basic resources like fuel, fodder and timber has taken place. It is therefore, essential that a comprehensive strategy for the management and development of the environment and physical resources of the Afghan region is evolved and implemented without any further loss of time. For future development plan of war ravaged Afghanistan can be take up as given below:- Hill Area Development Programme :- The hill area development programme could be based on the promotion of secure, basic life-support system, and judicious utilisation of land, minerals, water and biotic resources keeping in view the interests of both the hills and plains of Afghanistan. The whole strategy would centre around the active participation of the Afghanistani people, particularly consisting of women and the tribes in the fulfilment of their basic needs. In the formulation of policies, plans, programmes and schemes, eco-restoration, eco-preservation and eco-development must be given due consideration. The sustainable land-use/and-cover plan should be formulated and implemented by the active participation of the local people. Generation of Employment Opportunities: - The protection of existing resources in Afghanistan, the development of barren and wastelands, implementation of massive fruit tree plantation programme, watershed management programme, and cultivation management schemes may generate adequate employment opportunities |