Page Updated: 12-Nov-2007
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Virtual Silk Highway in Afghanistan

Introduction

Afghan Silk Dish

Key Links Virtual Silk Highway

The NATO-Afghanistan Declaration, signed on October 11, 2006, (PO(2006)009-REV1) calls for using the Virtual Silk Highway (VSH) satellite-based computer networking project in Afghanistan to support access to information and contribute to the successful implementation of the overall programme, including Research and Development capacity building.

One of NATO’s current key priorities is to enhance the security, governance and economic development in Afghanistan. The Alliance’s aim is to help establish the conditions in which Afghanistan can enjoy – after decades of conflict, destruction and poverty – a representative government and self-sustaining peace and security.

It is in this context that the Science for Peace and Security Programme’s Virtual Silk Highway project (VSH) is implemented and consolidated in Afghanistan.

Since 2002, the VSH project offers internet access to the academic communities of five countries in Central Asia, and three countries in the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The internet access is provided to the National Research and Education Network of each country, which then delivers the services to the academic community. In 2004, the Virtual Silk Highway was extended to include Afghanistan.

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