Jan 28, 2019
The Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS) announced today the appointment of Hekmat K. Karzai as the Centre’s Chairman. After assuming the position of Deputy Minister at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for four years, Mr. Karzai returns to CAPS to continue advocating for peace and building a strong research centre to serve Afghanistan and the region.

On his appointment, Mr. Karzai said: “It is a privilege to be back at CAPS, where I will be working with a stellar group of researchers and analysts at this critical time”. Mr Karzai added: “Peace is a top priority, and I will be dedicating much of my efforts on conflict resolution and confidence building measures for a more peaceful and prosperous future”. He concluded: “I look forward to working with our colleagues in order to further strengthen the high standards that CAPS has set in research and advocacy”.

Advisory Council Member of CAPS Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore welcomed the appointment, saying: “We are delighted that Mr. Karzai will be leading CAPS where he can bring his wealth of experience to further peace and governance issues”.

Mr. Karzai founded CAPS in 2006. Since its establishment, the Centre has provided vital research and advocacy in a number of fields, including conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and civic engagement. The Centre’s primary goal remains building local capacity and working towards the establishment of long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan and its wider region. In addition to its headquarters in Kabul, CAPS has regional branches in Kandahar, Khost, and Helmand.

Advisory Council Member Mr. Keith Fitzgerald, Director of the Negotiation Conflict Management and Crisis Leadership Team of Sea-Change Partners said, ‘CAPS has been doing important work throughout Afghanistan and the region for more than a decade. Hekmat Karzai returns with a wealth of high-level practical experience, at a critical time. His leadership, and the focus on peacebuilding, confidence-building, and the many negotiations that will be essential to Afghanistan’s future are exactly what the country needs right now.”

For further inquiries, please contact Mr. Hekmatuallah Azamy on:
Phone: +93 703 550 045
Email: h.azamy@caps.af

For Mr. Karzai’s detailed biography, please click here.