Challenges of CASA-1000

Leaders of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan gathered on May 12 to launch the CASA-1000 project

Leaders of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan gathered on May 12 to launch the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA)-1000 project, terming it an important milestone for the integration of the two regions. The 1,200km, 1,300MW electricity link called CASA-1000 is set to connect the four countries by 2018. It aims to provide surplus electricity from Central Asia to the two countries in the southern part of the continent, alleviating their energy crisis. Tajikistan is expected to supply more than 75 per cent of the electricity envisaged by the project, while neighbouring Kyrgyzstan will supply the remainder. Afghanistan will be receiving 300MW of electricity and Pakistan the remaining 1,000MW.

The two Central Asian states need the project to export their surplus electricity and this is to the advantage of the two energy-starved neighbours in South Asia. The biggest hurdle, however, remains security challenges. Afghanistan and Pakistan have serious kinks to iron out with the Torkham border crossing between the two countries remaining shut for three successive days, indicating the poor state of bilateral relations. Trade issues have remained hostage to the thorny bilateral relationship with accusations flying from both sides. Pakistan and Afghanistan need to focus on the greater good if CASA-1000 is to be successful. But when security challenges trump whatever good there is to be had, this seems like a difficult task. The World Bank has already admitted that security remains the biggest challenge to this project. Miscreants will look for every opportunity to create hurdles for the project’s implementation. Both countries need to overcome this highly troublesome aspect through mutual cooperation and bridge the trust deficit that exists. Perhaps, if all parties realise that a peaceful, prosperous future for the region lies in greater inter-dependence, they might start working for each other’s mutual benefit. As of now, the precarious security situation in Afghanistan and its far-reaching impact on the region remain the biggest hurdle in the way of CASA-1000’s successful completion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.

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