During his recent visit to Doha, President Hamid Karzai invited Qatari entrepreneurs to invest in Afghanistan with confidence. He assured them that security condition was not going to deteriorate and the US will have a long term presence in Afghanistan. It is never bad to present a better image of Afghanistan abroad.

Nonetheless, the reality that the security condition is continuing its downward slope cannot be hidden from anyone. Afghanistan is in dire need of foreign investment in its various sectors. Nonetheless, for attracting investors merely making statements is not enough. There is need for more practicable measures that can ensure improvement in security condition.

Over the past week, according to sources, at least 3 American, 1 British and 45 Afghans have lost their lives as a result of insurgent attacks across Afghanistan. This toll would continue to multiply as months and years will pass in Afghanistan. Such is the condition that prevails in Afghanistan and in no way depicts that condition for attracting foreign direct investment is not feasible.

Before investing in a country, any business would analyze the risk factors and in Afghanistan making investment is highly risky. The businessmen would see the ground realities in country not the promises and assurance of its authorities.

Unskilled labor force, deep-rooted corruption, destructed infrastructures, drug trafficking, political instability, lack of transparency and accountability at all levels and several other such factors contribute to keeping investors away from Afghanistan.

 These all hindrances must be removed by the Afghan government with strong will and determination. The one thing the government and international community need to focus on more than everything is improving security and safety to the lives of businessmen. Long lasting security is the key to economic prosperity.

Today the Afghan businessmen face multifaceted problems – security on the top - and the government is failing to counter them. In the last ten years, we have witnessed abductions and killings of businessmen and investors. These incidents have gone discouraging people – in Afghanistan and abroad – who are having on mind to invest in this war-ravaged country.       

Afghanistan’s every sector provides much opportunity for investment. Unfortunately, Afghanistan cannot provide the required level security to the businessmen, traders and other investors. Both the domestic and foreign business firms currently operating in Afghanistan are worried about growing insecurity and uncertainty about the future.