Today’s Links 8/30/2013

Khaled Koser, “Afghanistan 2014: Displacement Scenarios” (Brookings Institution): Based on fieldwork in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Koser considers the status of displaced Afghans. The topline figure is that the UN expects that 2014 will see 50-100,000 refugees crossing borders into Iran and Pakistan, based on expectations of continued and possibly escalating conflict. Conversely, there is little expectation that many Afghans will return from abroad.

Gran Hewad and Thomas Ruttig, “Narrower than Expected: Political Opposition presents ‘Electoral Union on Afghanistan’” (AAN): An analysis of a new coalition of Northern powerbrokers who, despite the hype, have not been as unified as advertised. Key quote: “ Today it is still far from clear whether this new coalition will be able to hold together and to implement its decision to field a single candidate. Finding the one name among many contenders, of whom not many would be happy with the role of a number 2 or 3, will be a real challenge.”

Jason Burke, “Manmohan Singh tries to quell fears over Indian economy” (Guardian): Reportage on a parliamentary speech by Singh that sought to reassure investors that India was not experiencing a currency crisis like that of 1991. Singh mostly tried to keep the focus on the actions of Western central bankers, rather than the lack of internal reforms, all ahead of 2014 campaigning.

“Fact Sheet: The Land Acquisition Bill” (Wall Street Journal): Brief run-down on the just-passed Land Acquisition Bill, intended to give affected communities more adequate compensation for the value of their land. Often communities have resorted to violence to protest eminent domain-style seizures of their land to build factories and commercial developments. Critics charge that the compensation procedures will be too onerous, discouraging further foreign direct investment.