The country, which was torn apart by decades of war and misrule, is once again about to become self-sufficient in cereal production, according to the President, who said “already the fruits of relative stability and increased prosperity in Afghanistan are spilling over our borders to the wider region.” Afghanistan joined the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) earlier this year to help with its plans to eventually serve as a commercial bridge between South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Karzai told the General Assembly’s annual high-level debate that while the economic and institutional gains have been impressive, so too are the “momentous challenges” that Afghanistan still faces. He cited poverty, underdevelopment and climatic hardships as well as the leading threats – terrorism and narcotics.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/485938