The Importance of Lapis Lazuli Corridor for Afghanistan

Abstract

Lapis lazuli corridor is one of the most important and new transit routes which Afghanistan connects to central Asia countries and other countries. Lapis Lazuli corridor has a historical background and was part of the Silk Road through which the lapis lazuli of Afghanistan (from Badakhshan) was exported over 2000 years ago to the Caucasus, Russia, the Balkans, Europe, and North Africa, especially to the eastern civilizations along the ancient Silk Road. The lapis lazuli trade route connects Afghanistan and South Asia countries with Europe by roads and rails. It is considered one of the shortest and most reliable transit routes for Afghanistan where it has named a landlocked country, in order to get connected to Europe. The importance of this route is that to emerge as an economic corridor for inclusive development by which Afghanistan will be connected to Europe, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and then to Europe. It will connect Afghanistan through land and sea with developed and economic zones of central Asia and European countries, where it will provide more opportunities for Afghanistan to trade it’s all kind of products to other nations. In addition, it will be discussed the importance of this transit route for Afghanistan as a new economic policy of Afghanistan which conducted by Afghan government to connect this country with Central Asia countries and Europe. The main object of this essay covers the socio-cultural significances of the lapis lazuli route for Afghanistan and other nations which located on this way. Moreover, I will find out the cultural and social importance of lapis lazuli corridor in this essay to know its geographical location and its other important issues from articles and journals which discuss about the lapis lazuli corridor as a new economic way for Afghanistan.