Page 41 - 2009 AMA Summer

well as trekking and mountaineering there are projects to investigate the potential of re-establishing the commercial hunting of the wild Marco Polo sheep.
The vision is for this safe and easily defend- ed corner of Afghanistan to become a bea- con of hope for the rest of the country. As part of this vision later this year four Afghan's will attempt to climb Noshaq along with a French documentary unit. This will be the first time any Afghan has climbed their country's highest mountain. With good media coverage these four climbers will become national heroes and
be a positive talking point throughout the country. One foreign correspondent said “2009 is going to be a very busy year for me and this is the only good news I'm like- ly to cover.”
The more people climb in the Wakhan, the more people will be returning with positive stories about the country as well as bringing back photographs and importantly Afghan souvenirs. It is hoped that mountaineers could be the pioneers for exporting Afghan produce such as carpets, gemstones and jewellery. This could open the way for busi- nessmen to use the infrastructure devel-
oped for and by the mountaineers to safely access Afghanistan and allow Ishkashim to become a major hub for trade between Afghans and the rest of the world.
As the international community struggles to find a new and effective approach to Afghanistan it just may be that the answer to the enigma lies in the Hindu Kush moun- tains. The war in 2001–2 was won from the secure northeast, so why not the peace?
To find out more visit www.mountainunity.org
MOUNTAIN UNITY
Mountain Unity International is a Community Interest Company (CIC) set up by former British soldier David James to promote and develop
the mountaineering and trekking industries in northeast Afghanistan. A CIC is a not for profit organisation set up for the benefit of a nominated community, in this case the peo- ple of the Hindu Kush and Pamir Knot mountains. All profits and assets are legally locked into supporting the Afghan people.
By the time you read this article David and his family will be living in the Wakhan Corridor providing support to climbers and trekkers by acting as a first point of contact and arrang- ing guides, vehicles and accommodation. He will also be writ- ing articles for climbing magazines, updating the www.mountainunity.org website and encouraging the media to cover good news stories from the Hindu Kush. David James was awarded the QCVS for his analysis work in Afghanistan.
So far the work has been almost entirely self-funded; if you would like to help out then any donations would be welcomed.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER 39