India Invests $11 Billion in Afghanistan to Build Railroad, Steel Mill, and Iron Mine

[Baasha]

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...cure-afghan-mines-in-challenge-to-china-drive

India is investing in Afghanistan to offset Chinese influence in the area and prepare to play an active role in Afghanistan as the US' military withdrawal approaches.

They have already invested $1.5 Billion to build schools, roads, and even the Afghan parliament. It will be interesting to see how the Afghan people receive this; whether their support for the Taliban will fade due to the progress in the community.

Afghanistan has trillions in mineral ores and materials. Since India backs Karzai, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[Texashiker]

I wonder if this has anything to do with the india military placing orders for massive amounts of new weapons?

India is growing into first world country, but they need access to raw materials to keep the growth moving.

Its going to be interesting to see how china and india balance out the need for resources.

 

[The Green Bean]

India is growing into first world country, but they need access to raw materials to keep the growth moving.

What? :s 42% of India lives below the poverty line. It still has a meager per capita GDP of $1200 which is 40 times less than the USA. Besides, economists predict the Indian economy has slowed to around 6% growth and with not much hope of that changing: http://www.economist.com/node/21551061 . Apparently, it's not raw materials that is keeping them from growing faster but corruption and slow reforms.

It's not happening in our lifetimes. Sorry.

 

[Texashiker]

What? :s 42% of India lives below the poverty line.

What percentage of the US live below the poverty line?

 

[The Green Bean]

What percentage of the US live below the poverty line?

0%. Anybody earning more than $1.25 per day is above the international poverty line. I understand you have never actually been to India and have never seen real poverty.

 

[busydude]

What? :s 42% of India lives below the poverty line. It still has a meager per capita GDP of $1200 which is 40 times less than the USA. Besides, economists predict the Indian economy has slowed to around 6% growth and with not much hope of that changing: http://www.economist.com/node/21551061 . Apparently, it's not raw materials that is keeping them from growing faster but corruption and slow reforms.

It's not happening in our lifetimes. Sorry.

I agree. No point in debating this.

 

[Texashiker]

I understand you have never actually been to India and have never seen real poverty.

You are right, I have not.

But then again, its not really fair to compare US poverty to Indian poverty. Lets compare poverty in Ethiopia to poverty in India.

From what I see, India is taking steps to become a world power. We may not see it in our lifetime, but I think India is on its way to improving the standard of living for its citizens.

 

[The Green Bean]

I agree. No point in debating this.

Do you also agree that the $11 billion would have been better spent developing India and helping the 500 million poor Indians rather than trying to increase strategic depth by investing 5% of the national budget in a foreign land?

 

[The Green Bean]

You are right, I have not.

But then again, its not really fair to compare US poverty to Indian poverty. Lets compare poverty in Ethiopia to poverty in India.

From what I see, India is taking steps to become a world power. We may not see it in our lifetime, but I think India is on its way to improving the standard of living for its citizens.

So what are you basing your "sights" on? India, and 150 other countries are already improving the standard of living for its citizens. It's also impossible to predict what will happen in the next 100 year. India and China were the "developed" world once upon a time.

P.S: Eithopia has 39% of the population living under $1.25 a day.

 

[Theb]

What? :s 42% of India lives below the poverty line. It still has a meager per capita GDP of $1200 which is 40 times less than the USA. Besides, economists predict the Indian economy has slowed to around 6% growth and with not much hope of that changing: http://www.economist.com/node/21551061 . Apparently, it's not raw materials that is keeping them from growing faster but corruption and slow reforms.

It's not happening in our lifetimes. Sorry.

Looks like Pakistan may have backed the wrong horse. Don't worry I'm sure the Taliban will play nice if they get pushed back into your tribal areas. Who could've guessed that harboring and supporting terrorists wouldn't be a good long-term strategy for wielding influence in the region?

I wouldn't fret too much about India's economy. The upcoming construction projects in Afghanistan plus all that steel, aluminum, copper, and gold should give them a very nice boost.

 

[Texashiker]

So what are you basing your "sights" on? India, and 150 other countries are already improving the standard of living for its citizens. It's also impossible to predict what will happen in the next 100 year. India and China were the "developed" world once upon a time.

P.S: Eithopia has 39% of the population living under $1.25 a day.

I am basing it on Indians are being educated here in the US, then going back home.

Companies like dell are outsourcing their call centers to india, which is increasing exposure to technology.

Companies are eying india for its low wage workers. Year or two ago there were some articles about companies dumping china and going to india or africa for cheap labor.

Unlike the chinese, indians are tolerant of other religions.

 

[The Green Bean]

Looks like Pakistan may have backed the wrong horse. Don't worry I'm sure the Taliban will play nice if they get pushed back into your tribal areas. Who could've guessed that harboring and supporting terrorists wouldn't be a good long-term strategy for wielding influence in the region?

I wouldn't fret too much about India's economy. The upcoming construction projects in Afghanistan plus all that steel, aluminum, copper, and gold should give them a very nice boost.

Just a few years ago, the US thought the they could defeat the Taliban within months. It's 10 years now and the USA finally realized the Taliban are political force to reckon with. I don't really support the Taliban ideology and I believe the region would be better without them, I really do think Pakistan were precise in their calculations of backing the Taliban.

An article published in the BBC in Feb 2012 says :

Nato has invested hundreds of billions of dollars over the past 10 years trying to raise a modern army for Afghanistan and to rebuild the country's infrastructure. But if a leaked classified report prepared by the alliance is to believed, all this will go to waste soon after foreign combat forces withdraw in 2014.

The article also stresses on the importance of Pakistan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16851949

I wonder if it is India that has made a miscalculation of $11 billion. Nato's "hundreds of billions" also belittles India's meager donation.

 

[The Green Bean]

I am basing it on Indians are being educated here in the US, then going back home.

Companies like dell are outsourcing their call centers to india, which is increasing exposure to technology.

Companies are eying india for its low wage workers. Year or two ago there were some articles about companies dumping china and going to india or africa for cheap labor.

Unlike the chinese, indians are tolerant of other religions.

How old are you? Have you graduated from high school?

Do you have any stats for how many Indian students come the USA and back to India? Call centers don't increase exposure to technology. India might have much cheaper labour than China, but like Africa it has no where near the required infrastructure for labor-expoliting companies like Apple to move there. Besides, the Indian laws won't allow it. They are slow in reforming.

 

[busydude]

Do you also agree that the $11 billion would have been better spent developing India and helping the 500 million poor Indians rather than trying to increase strategic depth by investing 5% of the national budget in a foreign land?

I am not so sure. One could argue about a lot of things that are deemed to be wasteful spending when they proposed it.. like India's space program. Yes, it seemed unnecessary at that time, but right now.. India is competing with other countries to launch satellites and this had shown that.. what seems like wasteful spending in the short term.. may actually be very beneficial in the future.

Does India have to do more to raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life of her citizens? Absolutely. Can this $11 Billion be put to better use? Yes, in the same way the whole money spent by the Government can be put of better use. Is this the right thing to do? I am not sure, but I feel it may be helpful in the future.. as India is hungry for energy and resources.

 

[Texashiker]

How old are you? Have you graduated from high school?

44 years old, yes I finished high school.

My main exposure to Indians is when I worked for one for around 5 1/2 years. I have nothing but the highest level of respect for Indians.

Call centers don't increase exposure to technology.

Are you stupid or something?

Have you ever worked a call center?

 

[The Green Bean]

I am not so sure. One could argue about a lot of things that are deemed to be wasteful spending when they proposed it.. like India's space program. Yes, it seemed unnecessary at that time, but right now.. India is competing with other countries to launch satellites and this had shown that.. what seems like wasteful spending in the short term.. may actually be very beneficial in the future.

Does India have to do more to raise the standard of living and improve the quality of life of her citizens? Absolutely. Can this $11 Billion be put to better use? Yes, in the same way the whole money spent by the Government can be put of better use. Is this the right thing to do? I am not sure, but I feel it may be helpful in the future.. as India is hungry for energy and resources.

Satellites I agree--they are good in the long term and India has matured enough to require them. But to go to Afghanistan for energy and resource needs is stupid. Afghanistan is landlocked and guess who India has to go through to get access. I can't see India ever being able to have a guaranteed safe passage until the Indus water disputes are resolved.

Pakistan has shown interest in the TAPI pipeline, but Afghanistan is not stable enough to sustain it. India is playing against its interests by trying to appease the Americans. The Americans did give them nuclear tech, but was that enough to bypass investing in Iran and wasting money in Afghanistan?

 

[The Green Bean]

44 years old, yes I finished high school.

My main exposure to Indians is when I worked for one for around 5 1/2 years. I have nothing but the highest level of respect for Indians.

Sorry but your argumentative skills suggest otherwise. Working for one Indian does not mean all of them are the same. There are 1.2 billion of them.

Are you stupid or something?

Have you ever worked a call center?

All you need to know is a decent grip of English, basic knowledge of how to use a telephone and repeat the answers. Most of those that end up in call centers are from the lower spectrum of the IQ scale. I'm pretty sure most ATers would have better knowledge of motherboards than an Indian working at a Dell call center.

 

[Texashiker]

India is playing against its interests by trying to appease the Americans.

You are really dumb aren't you?

It is in Indias best interest to side with the US, as compared to siding with a nation controlled by islam.

Islam is not tolerate of other religions, and that is going to be a factor when Hindus and muslims start having conflicts.

Hindu and Islam are in no way compatible, so its best they just steer clear of each other.

All you need to know is a decent grip of English, basic knowledge of how to use a telephone and repeat the answers.

In other words, you have no experience working at a call center.

 

[Theb]

Just a few years ago, the US thought the they could defeat the Taliban within months. It's 10 years now and the USA finally realized the Taliban are political force to reckon with. I don't really support the Taliban ideology and I believe the region would be better without them, I really do think Pakistan were precise in their calculations of backing the Taliban.

An article published in the BBC in Feb 2012 says :



The article also stresses on the importance of Pakistan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16851949

I wonder if it is India that has made a miscalculation of $11 billion. Nato's "hundreds of billions" also belittles India's meager donation.

Big military presences are expensive (and probably useless in Afghanistan at this point in the game) but I think infrastructure and jobs can win people over. Railroads, mines, and mills cost a lot less than military bases and will be perceived much more positively by the locals.

Afghanistan will probably always be a backwards shit-hole, but if they can capitalize on their resources they might become a stable, backwards, shit-hole with a veneer of civilization.

 

[The Green Bean]

You are really dumb aren't you?

It is in Indias best interest to side with the US, as compared to siding with a nation controlled by islam.

Islam is not tolerate of other religions, and that is going to be a factor when Hindus and muslims start having conflicts.

Hindu and Islam are in no way compatible, so its best they just steer clear of each other.




In other words, you have no experience working at a call center.

20% of India is Muslim. Maybe they should kill them all or send them away since they are so incompatible.

 

[Baasha]

You know India is doing something right when Pakistanis get jittery about investments that INDIA makes in other countries. :biggrin:

It is no surprise that people are quick to question India's development with the same canard of "more than xx% of India's population lives on less than $2/day". Although nobody would argue those statistics, it has to be put into perspective. $2 in India is almost 100 rupees. One person can feed an entire family for two days with that amount. Of course, we're not talking about "wining and dining" but still, subsistence is possible. They're called living standards; in India, everything costs a fraction of what it does elsewhere (unless you get into the luxury market of course).

Additionally, it is interesting to note that when India spent its money building schools, roads, and laying down power lines in Afghanistan, the Pakistan-backed Taliban bombed the Indian embassy at the behest of the ISI causing the death of 9 Indian nationals. This act of war was not unnoticed but with the spineless wonder (Congress Party) in power in India, nothing much was made of it. Karzai signed a pact with India recently for furthering development, a word unknown to the Taliban and their backers.

Anyone who questions investments such as these is not only myopic but has an ulterior agenda in curtailing India's progress. Only idiots will call India's R&D in the space program a waste. The same idiots, with the backing of devious organizations, who are protesting the operation of one of the most advanced nuclear plants in the world; the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu (south India).

Those who can't see past their nose are quick to judge the far-sightedness of the Indian establishment. It was no coincidence that the space program, developed 100% in India by Indian scientists, helped discover water deposits on the moon.

While China has been party to genocide and abetting warlords in Africa and elsewhere, India is investing with its heart and mind and is positioning itself to exert regional power quite effectively. This aspect of the Planning Commission of India deserves nothing but praise.

 

[Baasha]

Satellites I agree--they are good in the long term and India has matured enough to require them. But to go to Afghanistan for energy and resource needs is stupid. Afghanistan is landlocked and guess who India has to go through to get access. I can't see India ever being able to have a guaranteed safe passage until the Indus water disputes are resolved.

Pakistan has shown interest in the TAPI pipeline, but Afghanistan is not stable enough to sustain it. India is playing against its interests by trying to appease the Americans. The Americans did give them nuclear tech, but was that enough to bypass investing in Iran and wasting money in Afghanistan?

Good heavens you are dense. Ever heard of Gilgit-Baltistan? India will get the resources it needs through India; it doesn't need Pakistan at all. The military build up in India and the near collapse of Pakistan is coming along nicely and will enable India to build a strong corridor for trade etc. from India to Afghanistan and vice versa. Pakistan was, is, and always will be useless.

 

[Baasha]

20% of India is Muslim. Maybe they should kill them all or send them away since they are so incompatible.

Should have been kicked out in 1947. Golden opportunity missed. However, another one shall come soon enough!

Btw, aren't you really happy that Modi was exonerated AGAIN by the SIT?

Hindu baiters and India haters can eat shit.

 

[The Green Bean]

good heavens you are dense. Ever heard of gilgit-baltistan? India will get the resources it needs through india; it doesn't need pakistan at all. The military build up in india and the near collapse of pakistan is coming along nicely and will enable india to build a strong corridor for trade etc. From india to afghanistan and vice versa. Pakistan was, is, and always will be useless.

roflmao!

 

[The Green Bean]

Should have been kicked out in 1947. Golden opportunity missed. However, another one shall come soon enough!

Btw, aren't you really happy that Modi was exonerated AGAIN by the SIT?

Hindu baiters and India haters can eat shit.

Fascist.