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Afghanistan and the Asian Future

Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States
Moderated by Kent Calder, Director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies

November 2, 2016

Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States, joined Johns Hopkins SAIS faculty, students and guests for a discussion on the future of Afghanistan.

Mohib recounted the recent Brussels Summit on Afghanistan, where the Afghan government's agenda was reviewed and the donor community renewed its commitment to the country. The final pledge amount of $15 billion was a vote of confidence for the country. Mohib pointed to progress the Afghanistan government has made in fighting corruption, reforming the judiciary, expanding women’s rights, and improving education and healthcare. In particular, Afghanistan is trying to renew its role as the hub of the New Silk Road, through 14 regional agreements.

From a security point of view, Mohib said the objective is to make Afghanistan an anchor of stability for the region. From an economic perspective, Afghanistan’s full participation in trade, development, energy, transportation, and production will benefit the entire region and determine whether the country achieves its goal of self-reliance. Afghanistan’s allies in Asia, like Japan and India, have played a crucial role in the country’s development, Mohib said.

In conclusion, Mohib discussed the high stakes of Afghanistan‘s role in Asia, as the nation is positioning itself to participate in and benefit from Asia’s rise, and it is striving towards an Afghanistan where goods, ideas and people flow freely.

Video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Uwm5q5kF0.

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