More than 1000 Spanish troops in north -east Afghanistan are attempting to agree with their Italian counterparts about how they jointly protect what has become known as the Lithium Route.

Lithium is one of Afghanistan´s few important exports.It is important in the construction of computers , mobile phones and hybrid car batteries.

The Spanish troops are assigned to protecting construction work on a road in the south of Badghis province to a point in the north where the Italian troops take over from them.The road should be completed by the end of the year.It was seeing this project through that decided the government to delay the withdrawal of Spanish troops by 6 months.

The problem which has arisen is that the communication with the Italians seems to have broken down.It has been said that the Italians are not keen on doing this project as they see Herat province as theirs.

One of the main issues seems to be security , as they see this deteriorating once the US leaves Afghanistan.The insurgents don´t want this road to be built as they see it as a threat to their drug trade.