Security Fears Drive Cost Of Gold Up In Afghanistan

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 27: Afghan women look at gold in a window of a jewelry shop February 27, 2010 in Herat, Afghanistan. As the ongoing war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year the instability in the region has shaken the trade market and in most gold shops business is down 90 percent. Many Afghans have fled the country in fear and with international gold prices around $1,000 dollars an ounce many gold traders are without customers to sell to. Gold plays an important ritualistic purpose in the Afghan culture and have long bought gold as a store of wealth. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)