Afghanistan faces economic timebomb

Afghanistan faces economic timebomb - The West Australian:

 After a decade of near double-digit growth, the Afghan economy has stalled in the past two years, hit by a disputed presidential election and the end of NATO's combat mission, which formally closed in January.

Now, the tricky political and security transitions are joined by an equally tough economic hurdle.

The fact is not lost on the moneychangers who deal in "hawala" transactions, an informal system of transferring funds internationally seen as a barometer of economic confidence.

Omiad Khan, sitting in his family business in the market, told AFP more money was leaving Afghanistan these days, and less was coming in.