The New Silk Road and the Northern Distribution Network: A Golden Road to Central Asian Trade Reform? VOA Uzbek's Navbahor Imamova talks to analyst Graham Lee, whose research indicates that the Northern Distribution Network, supply route to Afghanistan, has not resulted in the broad-based benefits and reforms that were expected, including greater regional cooperation, reduced corruption, and improvements in the economic status of Central Asian citizens. Washington has been promoting a New Silk Road to connect South and Central Asia through transit corridors. US officials say that the goal is to improve the regional trade and tear down commercial barriers.