Political Indecision And Fuel Shortage in Afghanistan
January 19, 2011 - Rising fuel prices and continued indecision in Afghanistan’s parliamentary proceedings may be driving more Afghan citizens into the arms of the Taliban.
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UPI reports that the Iranian embassy in Afghanistan claims that only 160 oil tankers were waiting to cross the border form Iran to Afghanistan, but an article by the L.A. Times said that about 2,500 tankers are backed up at the border and waiting to cross into Afghanistan. Afghanistan depends on other nations for its fuel supply, and about one-third to half of that fuel supply comes through Iran, said the L.A. Times.
Afghan citizens are caught in the middle of power plays between Iran and the United States and internal political difficulties, feeling a lack of good will. There has been protesting outside the Iranian Embassy and the L.A. Times reports that some Afghan citizens blame NATO and U.S. policies in dealing with Iran for the fuel shortage.
Some reports suggest the Taliban may be taking advantage of the situation to attract more citizens to their cause by offering them stability and a source of income.
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/01/political-indecision-and-fuel-shortage-afghanistan
Paskistan may be letting some fuel tankers through for commercial buyers, but the Pakistan blockade of NATO fuel tankers is still in place since November.