Afghanistan: Challenging the International Exit Strategy

Most international troops will have left Afghanistan by 2014. Under a transitional period that began in July this year, the Afghan police and army will gradually take over sole responsibility for security in the country. Is Afghanistan ready for this withdrawal? Is the exit strategy adopted adapted to the challenges facing Afghanistan? What legacy will the international community leave behind when it leaves?

The conference will bring together Afghan and international analysts, including key partners of the Association for Human Rights in Afghanistan (ASDHA) and senior analysts of the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN).

The AAN is a field-based, independent research organization focusing on political developments, governance and security in Afghanistan and its region. The AAN brings together leading researchers on Afghanistan, all of whom have many years experience of Afghanistan. Since its establishment in 2009, AAN has quickly become known as a source of accurate information and in depth analysis about developments in Afghanistan.

ASDHA is a non-governmental organization founded in 2000, during the Taliban period, to help Afghan women. It is the only Spanish organization that continues to work in Afghanistan today. Pursuing its mission of achieving peace with justice, ASDHA assists not only Afghan women, but also victims of the war.

Wednesday 1st February 

4:30 pm Presentation

5:00 pm Crime, corruption and economic development

Speaker: Martine van Bijlert,  AAN's co-director

Commentators:
Doris Buddenberg, former Head of UNODC, Afghanistan; AAN Advisory Board member

Francesc Vendrell, former European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan; Chairman of AAN Advisory Board

6:30 pm Role of Afghan media to avoid a new civil war

Speaker: Ricardo Grassi, journalist, writer and media manager and trainer in Afghanistan.

Commentators:
Hadi Marifat, director of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO).
Jamila Afghani,

7:30 pm Defending women’s rights: Challenges for the future

 and Rangina Hamidi, Kandahar Treasure’s founder.

Commentators:
Sari Kuovo,  AAN's co-director
Mònica Bernabé, journalist and president of Association for Human Rights in Afghanistan (ASDHA).

 

Thursday 2nd February 

5:00 pm Talebans, friends or foes of Pakistan?

Speaker: Ann Wilkens, former Swedish Ambassador to Afghanistan and Pakistan; AAN Advisory Board Member

Commentators:
Thomas Ruttig,  AAN's co-director
Rangina Hamidi, Kandahar Treasure’s founder.

6:30 pm Is Afghanistan on the brink of a civil war?

Speaker: Francesc Vendrell, former European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan; Chairman of AAN Advisory Board

Commentators:
Thomas Ruttig, AAN's co-director
Fabrizio Foschini, AAN’s researcher.

7:45 pm Peace versus justice. What is at stake for a political settlement?

Speakers: Sari Kuovo,  AAN's co-director, and Hadi Marifat, director of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO).

Commentators:
Francesc Vendrell, former European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan; Chairman of AAN Advisory Board
Martine van Bijlert,  AAN's co-director