tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105051902011-04-21T15:25:13.366-07:00mazafakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039296850043238105noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10505190.post-1107103151695078322005-01-30T08:38:00.000-08:002005-01-30T08:39:11.696-08:00It is estimated the $60m Dogharun-Herat road, paid for by Iran, will carry over half of Afghan imports and exports. <br />The highway has been called a modern day "silk route" and it is hoped it will eventually link the whole of Asia. <br />Afghanistan's illegal drugs trade and its leaders' close ties with the US have tested relations with <br />Iran. <br />QUICK GUIDE <br /><a onclick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/quick_guides/04/south_asia_afghanistan0s_challenges/html/1.stm', '1097509222', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=430,left=312,top=100'); return false;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/quick_guides/04/south_asia_afghanistan0s_challenges/html/1.stm">Afghanistan</a> <br />Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to Iran to inaugurate the road and a power line is his first official trip since being elected last year. <br />"This is a very important step on the way to Afghanistan's reconstruction," he said at a ceremony on at Dogharun on Iran's eastern frontier. <br />The help of Iran is written in gold <br />Afghan President Hamid Karzai <br />Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said he wanted a "stable, dignified" Afghanistan. <br />"I believe our security is Afghanistan's security," he said. <br />"Our stability and Afghanistan's stability are linked. Our progress and development is linked to Afghanistan's development." <br />Refugees <br />Iran's Revolutionary Guards built the 120-km (75-mile) highway to the Afghan city of Herat. <br />According to one of the engineers, interviewed by the Iranian state news agency, it was finished six months ahead of schedule. <br />The road is said to have police stations, rest stops and 24 car parks to accommodate the heavy traffic that is expected. <br />Iranian officials estimate that 60% of Afghanistan's imports and exports will travel on the road. <br />The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says President Karzai's trip is mainly about business ties, but talks on Iran's repatriation of Afghan refugees are also likely. <br />The United Nations has accused Iran of exerting undue pressure on Afghans to make them go home, and has threatened to suspend its refugee programme in Iran. <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10505190-110710315169507832?l=maturenew.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>mazafakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039296850043238105noreply@blogger.com1