I don’t think it’s about the Super Soldier Serum.
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The Afghans never could have done it on their own. Where does this idea that the Afghans are ten feet tall come from.
I think you answer your own question. Afghanistan sits astride historic trade routes and borders contemporary nations who are mistrustful of one another so the chances of finding an outside investor, as it were, have been and continue to be pretty good.
IISS Strategic Comment 'India's role in Afghanistan'
The main focus is on India, but there's always a Pakistani angle too:http://www.iiss.org/publications/str...n-afghanistan/
Three items I noted:
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...it is not clear that India would wholeheartedly support all attempts at political reconciliation. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signalled a significant shift in US policy in February when she said that the 'red lines' for talks with the Taliban – the renunciation of violence, abandonment of an alliance with al-Qaeda and abidance by the Afghan Constitution – were 'necessary outcomes' rather than preconditions. India may not support this move towards negotiations with the Taliban without preconditions.
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Yet despite being the largest regional donor in Afghanistan,and the fifth largest internationally, India finds it increasingly difficult to operate in Afghanistan.... Since 2001, 20 Indian nationals have been killed....Crucially, no new major construction project has started in the past two to three years.
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The possibility of a Pakistan-brokered endgame between hardline elements of the Taliban and the Afghan government, along with the potential destabilisation of existing Afghan governance structures, remains of concern to India. India enjoys broad public support in Afghanistan, because its reconstruction efforts have been spread throughout the country and benefited all ethnic and tribal groups.
US should not talk peace with brigands
Not surprisingly some Indian commentators oppose the much-talked about "talks" with the Afghan Taliban:http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analy...-with-brigands
A reported negotiator actually being in Pakistani custody and Germany / Qatar 'good offices' being used.