(7 Sep 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus062591
THIS IS THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR IN NORTHEASTERN AFGHANISTAN.
BEAUTIFUL. REMOTE. and PEACEFUL.
THE TALIBAN-LED INSURGENCY HAS NOT REACHED THIS VALLEY, BUT THE AREA IS SO POOR, IT RELIES ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND NON-PROFIT AGENCIES TO HELP PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE...EDUCATION AND MEDICAL CARE.
SAEED BEG LIVES WITH HIS WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN IN A TWO ROOM HOUSE MADE OF MUD....WITH NO ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER.
HE BARTERS TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
SOUNDBITE (Dari) Saeed Beg, Wakhan resident:
"We give away a sheep in exchange for a bag of rice, or a sheep in exchange for two cans of cooking oil and likewise for salt and other food items, and we do it because there is no money and we don't have any salary.
WITH NO MONEY TO DRIVE THE LOCAL ECONOMY... MOST SHOPS ARE LOCKED UP ALONG THE MAIN STREET OF THE DISTRICT'S ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER.
SHOPKEEPERS LIKE MOHAMMAD FAAZEL SAY HE SELLS THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT TWO DOLLARS A DAY IN GOODS.
SOUNDBITE (Dari) Mohammad Faazel, shopkeeper:
"Sometimes children come here with a couple of eggs or 10 to 20 Afghanis to buy chewing gum. Here in our market we haven't witnessed a day when we have collected 500 or 1000 Afghanis.
SPIRITUAL LEADERS AGREE.
SOUNDBITE (DariI) Wakhan Shah Ismail, Ismaili Shiite spiritual leader:
"These people don't have salaries. Even our youth can't get anywhere, because in this government you must have money or know someone to move forward."
MULLAH MOHAMMAD AND HIS FAMILY SURVIVE MAINLY ON WHAT THEY CAN HARVEST IN THEIR FIELD.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS LAND HAS LED THE KABUL GOVERNMENT TO DESIGNATE THE WAKHAN CORRIDOR -- A NATIONAL PARK.,,,THE SECOND IN THE COUNTRY.
OFFICIALS HOPE IT WILL DRAW TOURISTS AND CREATE JOBS.
BUT LOCALS WORRY THAT WILL ALSO ATTRACT THE TALIBAN.
WITH SO FEW OPPORTUNITIES....YOUNG MEN WHO WANT A FUTURE...LOOK TO JOINING THE POLICE OR SERVING IN THE ARMY....THEREFORE LEAVING THIS BEAUTIFUL, BUT FORGOTTEN CORNER OF AFGHANISTAN.
NED BARKER...THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
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