Construction of Road to Khandahar in Afghanistan

On December 16, about 30 miles south of Kabul, U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad, USAID Administrator Natsios, Japanese Ambassador Komano and representatives of many other countries joined President Hamid Karzai in formally opening the 242 mile highway between Kabul and Kandahar. The opening of this vital link between the two biggest cities of Afghanistan is a keystone event in the rebuilding of that country. Together with the Constitutional Loya Jirga, the completion of the road marks an historic milestone in the political and economic life of Afghanistan. As Administrator Natsios said at the dedication ceremony, this road is a “symbol of the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the commerce that will be encouraged by it, the education that will be easily obtained because of it, and the better health care that will be accessible by citizens because of it.