Nov 21, 2011

27 – 28 October 2011

Deputy Director of CAPS, Ms. Mariam Safi, was invited, together with nine Afghan opinion-makers for a two day visit at NATO head quarters where a series of dedicated discussions on the Alliance’s political and military long-term engagement in Afghanistan was held.
On the morning of the 27th of October, Ms. Safi and other Afghan delegates discussed Afghan relations with NATO Countries touching upon the accomplishments and shortcomings of both the Afghan government and international community’s engagement in Afghanistan since 2001. This was followed by a lengthy discussion on the process of security transition to Afghan forces and NATO relations with Pakistan. Afghan delegates expressed to NATO officials that significant progress had been achieved in the last ten years such as the improvement in extending local access to government services across Afghanistan,education facilities, health clinics, and women’s rights. However, as identified by Ms. Safi without continued international support the segains are not sustainable and Afghans will not be able to consolidate these gains in the post-2014 period.
The morning session was followed by an afternoon session with the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, where the Afghan delegates discussed the transition process, development needs of Afghanistan, women’s rights and the Afghan government’s relations with its European partners.
In conjunction with the discussions held at NATO HQ, the Afghan delegates were also given an opportunity to engage with officials at the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) where the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James G. Stavridis is based.
Also Ms. Safi along with the other delegates engaged in a fruitful round table at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where representatives of the European Parliament and members of the Brussels-based think-tank community were also present. In this session,Ms. Safi pointed to the importance of dismantling insurgent sanctuaries present in the tribal border belt in Pakistan if real gains are to be achieved by both the Afghan government and the international community before 2014.