Australian National Review - Russia, Central Asia and the economics of peace — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

Australian National Review - Russia, Central Asia and the economics of peace — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

On the Afghan–Uzbek border, the first thing you notice is the noise. Trains, trucks, and buses move in both directions almost without pause. For the first time in decades, the hum of trade has replaced the sound of gunfire. Meanwhile, the recent border clash between Afghanistan and Pakistan is unlikely to escalate into full-scale war. Neither side has the resources – or the appetite – for a long conflict. For most regional governments today, sta…