Nov 23, 2010

Participants of the Abu Dhabi Process, held their second private conference in Kabul on October 4 to 6, 2010. Mr. Hekmat Karzai, Director of Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies was one of the participants representing Afghanistan in the plenary.  This conference was supported by the government of Abu Dhabi and facilitated by the EastWest Institute.

The event brought government officials, activists and prominent personalities from both Afghanistan and Pakistan together in a series of meetings that began in Abu Dhabi on June 2010.

The participants of this conference from Afghanistan included among others:

Dr. Davood Moradian, Senior Adviser to the Afghan FM and Director General of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
H.E. Minister Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai, Minister Advisor on Internal Security to the President, Office of H.E. the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (final confirmation pending)
Honorable Dr. Mirwais Yasini, First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament (Confirmed)
Mr. Hekmat Karzai, Director, Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS), Kabul (Confirmed)
Prof. Ali A. Jalali, Distinguished Professor, Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University (USA) (Confirmed
Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef: Former Ambassador of the Taliban to Pakistan

The participants of this conference from Pakistan included among others:
Mr. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Head of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) (Confirmed)
General Asad Durrani, Former Director General of the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence.
Mr. Saleem Safi, Anchor/Journalist, Geo TV (Confirmed)
Mr. Afrasiab Khattak, Member of the Senate of Pakistan, Awami National Party (open)
H.E. Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan (open)
Mr.Mahmood Khan Achakzai, President Milli Awami Party (open)

The aim of the meetings is to develop trust between the two sides and establish complimentary channels of communicating. The meeting was held at Serena Hotel in Kabul, and issues of critical importance to both nations were discussed in an attempt to build confidence and work towards the stability of the region.