A "Greater Central Asia Partnership" for Afghanistan and Its Neighbors

Table of Contents 
Executive Summary....................................................................................................... 5 
I. Rationale..................................................................................................................... 8 
1.Circumstances Requiring a New Phase of U.S. Policy.................................................................. 8
2. Dangers That Will Arise from the Absence of a Pro-Active U.S. Policy in Afghanistan/ Central 
Asia. ............................................................................................................................................. 9
3. Drawbacks of Current U.S. Bilateralism in Central Asia and Afghanistan.................................11
4. Benefits that Will Arise from a Pro-Active and Region-Wide Policy in Afghanistan/Central 
Asia. ............................................................................................................................................ 12
5. The Chief Driver of a Region-wide Policy: Transport and Trade............................................... 13
6. Absence to Date of Other Region-Wide Structures for Multi-Faceted Development and Security.15
7. Strategic Objectives of the U.S. in “Greater Central Asia.”...................................................... 16
8. What Institutional Arrangements Are Needed to Pursue These Objectives Most Effectively?.... 16
9. Learning from Success in Afghanistan: Work With Governments in the Region Rather than On 
Them. .......................................................................................................................................... 17
10. Is There a “Democratic Threshold” That a State Must Pass Before It Will Be Allowed to Join 
the GCAP? ..................................................................................................................................18
11. What if a Regional State Declines to Participate?.....................................................................18
12 Once the GCAP is Established, How do Other Donor Countries and Agencies Coordinate Their 
Efforts in Afghanistan and the Region with the U.S.? ................................................................... 19
13. Does GCAP Create a Problem for Russia? For China? If so, What Should the U.S. Do About 
It? ................................................................................................................................................ 19
14. What Relation Should Exist Between GCAP and India and Turkey? ....................................... 21
15. Special Challenges: Uzbekistan. .............................................................................................. 21
16. Special Challenges: Pakistan....................................................................................................22
17. Special Challenges: Iran........................................................................................................... 23
18. What is the Cost of These New Arrangements Affecting Afghanistan and Central Asia? .......24
19. What Are the Likely Risks of These Arrangements? ................................................................24