Afghanistan's one-time booming war economy slows

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Afghanistan's one-time booming war economy slows
By REBECCA SANTANA
Associated Press
Aug 27, 1:23 AM EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Rows of dusty trucks and used cars sit unsold in Afghanistan's capital, where real estate agents bemoan a lack of sales and international businessmen no longer frequent top hotels. Even government employees nervously await each payday, worried the next might be delayed.

Afghanistan's economy, vastly supported by international military spending and aid since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion to topple the Taliban, finds itself struggling on the precipice of what could be an uncertain future. NATO forces plan to pull out at the end of the year, insecurity is rising as international aid falls and a drawn-out election battle threatens to destabilize the country.

All those worries have seen the country's economy retract in recent months and many fear things will only get worse.

"The people of Afghanistan have experienced civil war, and they worry that a civil war might happen again," said Ahmad Omed, a car dealer on Kabul's outskirts who says his sales have slumped as people hoard their money out of fears of having to flee the country.