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Articles by M. Ashraf Haidari
From Early Jewish Refugees to Afghan Neighbors: Don’t Punish a People for One Man’s Crime Original
Following a crime committed by one man, Afghans as a group were recast as an “enemy within.” This pattern is not new. Credit: Depositphotos Subscribe for ads-free reading Less than 48 hours after the ambush in Washington, D.C. that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and gravely wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, an individual crime began to harden into a collective accusation.
Afghanistan: When Disaster Meets Gender Apartheid
Unless the world acts with resolve, every disaster – whether natural or man-made – will continue to claim Afghan women and children first. Subscribe for ads-free reading On August 31, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, devastating the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir. Entire villages have been reduced to rubble, with many families buried beneath collapsed homes.
Afghanistan: When Disaster Meets Gender Apartheid
Unless the world acts with resolve, every disaster – whether natural or man-made – will continue to claim Afghan women and children first. Subscribe for ads-free reading On August 31, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, devastating the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir. Entire villages have been reduced to rubble, with many families buried beneath collapsed homes.
High-Level Virtual International Conference to Address Afghanistan’s Forced Displacement and Path to Peace on August 11
Displaced International and Arizona State University LDNS Lab convene global experts on the fourth anniversary of the Taliban takeover Washington, D.C., August 7, 2025 — On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, Displaced International (DI), in partnership with the Arizona State University Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (ASU LDNS Lab), will host a pivotal virtual international conference titled “Afghanistan Four Years On:...
Opinion: Afghanistan’s climate and conflict crises have a dire global cost
Afghanistan is one of the in the world. The recent weeks have seen recurrent climate disasters across the country, decimating impoverished villages filled with fragile mud homes. Without inclusive governance and robust international intervention, the country risks becoming a permanent pariah state — which is why the global community cannot afford to ignore the climate crises and humanitarian emergencies that are unfolding.
How the Taliban Have Inspired Global Terrorism and What to Do About It
The March 22nd’s spectacular complex terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall, twelve miles west of Kremlin, in Moscow is hardly new or surprising in the context of the world’s protracted failing war on terrorism. Unfortunately, “22/3” will soon be forgotten only to be added to the growing list of other terrorist-attack memorial dates, including “9/11” (New York), “26/11” (Mumbai), “7/7” (London), “11/3” (Madrid), “12/10” (Bali), “21/9” (Nairobi), and “23/7” (Sharm El Sheikh), to name just a few.
American diplomats should stay out of Afghanistan Original
While the world has paid close attention to wars and atrocities elsewhere, Afghanistan’s people have been ruled by a sanctioned extremist group since 2021 that keeps public order through force and coercion. The depth of Taliban depravity includes extrajudicial killings, silencing free speech and even kidnapping teenaged girls on the grounds that they are “improperly” covered and holding them in prison, where they are subject to torture and rape. On Feb.
How the Global Refugee Forum Can Help End Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis - Tribune Content Agency
Although the world’s displaced population shares many common needs and challenges, not all of them receive adequate attention and aid from the international community. This is usually determined by whether certain major powers are directly or indirectly involved in the conflicts that bring about internal displacement and the flight of others across international borders.
How the Global Refugee Forum Can Help End Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis - M. Ashraf Haidari
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How the Global Refugee Forum Can Help End Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis
Ultimately, restoring sustainable peace in Afghanistan is the only durable solution to the plight of its refugees. But there is much that can be done to work toward that goal and help people now. “Every refugee is a symptom of our collective failure to ensure peace and security,” Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, wrote recently in the Guardian. This often-overlooked fact underpins the plight of 114 million people who have been displaced across the world.
Securing Afghanistan Remains SCO’s Neglected Mission Possible
The Debate | Opinion Crises in Afghanistan directly threaten the entire SCO region, yet the organization has done little to address the problem. Before the addition of India and Pakistan in 2017, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) consisted of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The now eight-member SCO also has four observer states, including Afghanistan, and six dialogue partners, including Sri Lanka.
Hell on Earth: Afghanistan Is Suffering Under the Taliban
Key stakeholders with adequate experience in Afghanistan must reassess their hitherto tolerance of the tragic developments in Afghanistan since August 2021.
The Long Road to Finding an End to Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
Introduction: Pre-War Afghanistan In the 1970s, although Afghanistan relied heavily on foreign aid, displacement for protection or food security was rare. Afghans rarely abandoned their home villages in the rural regions.
Why the World Should Help Afghanistan
Afghanistan is facing one of the most complex humanitarian crises of its recent history. It is a convergence of the past 40 years of imposed conflicts of geopolitics, endemic poverty, climate change, the global economic recession due to COVID-19, and chronic foreign aid dependency, now at 40 percent.
Afghanistan Will Know No Peace Without Pressure on Pakistan
Forty-two years have passed since the start of nonstop imposed conflicts in Afghanistan. During this period, several attempts have been made to stabilize the country and to restore sustainable peace there. However, each peace effort has failed or stalled, including the Doha Agreement recently, which the United States under the Trump administration and the Taliban signed in February 2020.
Afghanistan’s Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis
How to overcome the legacy of four decades of suffering? Credit: Afghan refugees image via Eight Photo / Shutterstock.com The saga of Afghanistan as a vulnerable nation began in the late 1970s. Although Afghans were a destitute people at the time and thus somewhat reliant on foreign aid, they were a resilient nation. Displacement for protection or food security was rare. Afghans rarely abandoned their villages of origin where they were leading a peaceful, agrarian way of life.
Shared Heritage and Economic Ties Deepen Afghanistan-Sri Lanka Cooperation
The Debate | Opinion Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have ample reasons to cooperate, ranging from ensuring mutual prosperity to promoting peace in South Asia. Credit: M. Ashraf Haidari November 1, 2020 marked the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. To celebrate the occasion, Afghan and Sri Lankan leaders exchanged warm congratulatory messages, reaffirming their mutual commitment to further deepening ties between our two nations.
Afghanistan-Sri Lanka: A Growing Partnership For Shared Peace And Prosperity On South Asia - Analysis
https://www.eurasiareview.com-By Observer Research Foundation By M. Ashraf Haidari This November 1, 2020, marked the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. To celebrate the occasion, Afghan and Sri Lankan leaders exchanged warm congratulatory messages, reaffirming their mutual commitment to further deepening ties between our two nations.
Connectivity Key to Afghanistan–Sri Lanka Economic Cooperation | TOLOnews
This November 1, 2020, marked the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. To celebrate the occasion, Afghan and Sri Lankan leaders exchanged warm congratulatory messages, reaffirming their mutual commitment to further deepening ties between our two nations. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted to say: “Today, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan celebrate 62 years of establishing diplomatic relations.
Afghanistan - Sri Lanka: A growing partnership for shared peace and prosperity in South Asia
This November 1, 2020, marked the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. To celebrate the occasion, Afghan and Sri Lankan leaders exchanged warm congratulatory messages, reaffirming their mutual commitment to further deepening ties between our two nations. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted: “Today, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan celebrate 62 years of establishing diplomatic relations.
A Ceasefire for Eid, Peace, and Fighting COVID-19 in Afghanistan
The Debate | Opinion Violence has continued in Afghanistan throughout the holy month of Ramadan. This article is free The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID–19 crisis. Muslim men read the Quran during the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, April 24, 2020.
A Ceasefire for Eid, Peace, and Fighting COVID-19 in Afghanistan
Days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, violence had already escalated in March, taking the lives and limbs of hundreds of innocent civilians across Afghanistan.
India and Afghanistan: A Growing Partnership
The Debate Historically close, ties today are being driven forward by many shared interests. India remains an integral part of Afghanistan’s steady progress in institutionalizing peace, pluralism, and prosperity. Ties between Afghanistan and India go beyond the traditionally strong relations at the government level.
Only Peace Can Avert a COVID-19 Catastrophe in Afghanistan
As of this writing, over one million people in 181 countries are confirmed to have been infected by COVID-19 (coronavirus), according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. The novel pandemic has left no race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and ideology behind, as it continues ravaging all communities without distinction.
Afghanistan Calls for Stronger Ties with Sri Lanka
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was one of the first leaders in the region to send a message of congratulations to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following his recent electoral victory and assumption of official duties as the seventh executive president of Sri Lanka.
Securing South Asia Through Regional Economic Integration
The Debate Afghanistan is pushing for the vision of SAARC to become reality at long last. Flags of participating SAARC, or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, countries are seen outside the Vigyan Bhavan, the venue of the 14th SAARC Summit, in New Delhi, India, March 30, 2007.
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: A Growing Partnership
By M. Ashraf Haidari The past four decades have hardly been kind to the peace- and freedom-loving people of Afghanistan. But despite the many destructive conflicts imposed on the country, Afghans armed with a steel willpower have persevered to survive and thrive in what is an increasingly complex and dangerous world. Since the fall of the Taliban, the people of Afghanistan have made many strides toward sustainable peace, democracy, and prosperity.
The Internal and International Dimensions of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Elections
The Debate A Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency will have serious repercussions for both Sri Lanka’s internal governance as well as its international partnerships. Supporters Sri Lankan presidential candidate and former defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, cheer during his election campaign rally in Kadawatha, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. Credit: AP Photo/Lahiru Harshana On November 16, Sri Lankans will go to the polls to elect their next president.
Is Democracy Dying in Afghanistan?
The Debate The recent presidential election, coupled with a long list of government failures, is a serious alarm heralding the death of democracy in Afghanistan. Credit: NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan The latest presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, witnessed only 26 percent turnout, the lowest since 2001.
Afghanistan-Sri Lanka: Natural Partners in Democracy and Development
The Debate Despite occasional challenges, Sri Lanka’s democracy is vibrant and resilient, inspiring younger democracies such as Afghanistan. Credit: Image courtesy of the author The past four decades have hardly been kind to the peace- and freedom-loving people of Afghanistan. But despite the many destructive conflicts imposed on the country, Afghans armed with a steel willpower have persevered to survive and thrive in what is an increasingly complex and dangerous world.
The Taliban Go Global
The Debate The Taliban, long an isolated and parochial movement, is going global Credit: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP The Afghan Taliban has often been contrasted with al-Qaeda. While it might have hosted Bin Laden and his men in the 1990s, the Taliban never shared al-Qaeda’s interest in global jihad and stayed focused on Afghanistan. None of its members was involved in 9/11, and it has generally eschewed terrorist activity overseas.
How free press has strengthened democracy in Afghanistan
Since its emergence as a modern nation-state, Afghanistan has experimented with different forms of government. From absolute and constitutional monarchies to the first republic and communist/marxist regimes, never has Afghanistan experienced as much democratic rule as over the past 18 years since the fall of the Taliban.
How Free Press Has Strengthened Democracy in Afghanistan
The Debate Afghanistan’s free press is providing a critical service for the country’s young democracy. Credit: Afghanistan Government Media and Information Center (GMIC) Afghanistan has experimented with different forms of government since its emergence as a modern nation-state. From absolute and constitutional monarchies to the first republic and communist/Marxist regimes, never has Afghanistan experienced as much democratic rule as over the past 18 years since the fall of the Taliban.
How Free Press Has Strengthened Democracy in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has experimented with different forms of government since its emergence as a modern nation-state. From absolute and constitutional monarchies to the first republic and communist/Marxist regimes, never has Afghanistan experienced as much democratic rule as over the past 18 years since the fall of the Taliban.
The SCO Can De-escalate India-Pakistan Tensions
The SCO’s founding members have long pledged to ensure peace, security, and stability. Now it’s time to act on that rhetoric. India and Pakistan joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as full member states during the June 2017 SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. Before the addition of the two South Asian nations, the SCO consisted of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
How SCO Can Deescalate India-Pakistan Tensions?
India and Pakistan joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as full member-states in the 8-9 June 2017 SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. Before the addition of the two South Asian nations, the SCO consisted of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The now eight-member SCO also has four observer-states, including Afghanistan, and six dialogue-partners, including Sri Lanka.
For Peace in Afghanistan, Listen to Afghans
Afghan leaders welcome Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to Kabul, based on an Afghan-brokered peace agreement. There can be no peace without an Afghan-led peace process that involves regional stakeholders. By M.
Stay the Course to Win the Peace in Afghanistan
Image Credit: Office of the President of Afghanistan The U.S. must be careful not to repeat the mistake of an overly-hasty withdrawal of support for Afghanistan. By M. Ashraf Haidari for The Diplomat February 12, 2019 As the United States mulls withdrawal from Afghanistan, recent media coverage has been punctuated with defeatism.
The Forgotten Cold War Sacrifices of the Afghan People
In early May 1992, Mujahideen resistance fighters entered Kabul, laying claim to Afghanistan’s capital after the collapse of the communist regime. At the time, the city had not been severely damaged by warfare and Soviet occupation. The 27 years since then have not been kind to Kabul, though.
How China and India can help secure peace in Afghanistan
Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It helps discover and inform India’s choices, and carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. ORF provides non-partisan, independent analyses and inputs on matters of security, strategy, economy, development, energy, resources and global governance to diverse decision-makers (governments, business communities, academia, civil society).
How China and India Can Help Secure the Peace in Afghanistan
I was recently invited to a track 1.5 China-Afghanistan-Pakistan symposium on “Tackling Terrorist Threats, Jointly Safeguarding Regional Security” in Beijing. The rare trilateral symposium was welcomed by the three sides as a good opportunity to exchange views and to offer tangible policy and operational solutions for the consideration of their respective governments to help them address jointly the intertwined threats of terrorism, extremism, and criminality in the region.
The Afghan Peace Process: An FAQ
M. Ashraf Haidari, Director-General of Policy & Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, has been intimately involved in the Afghan peace process. Below, he answers the most commonly asked questions about the latest developments. What is the main purpose of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation? President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah re-launched the Kabul Process in June 2017.
How Economic Growth Can Help Defeat Terrorism in Afghanistan
The Debate The campaign for Afghanistan’s economy must stand on equal footing with the counterterrorism campaign. Credit: Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Syria, North Korea, and Yemen have largely dominated headlines. But Afghanistan also remains in the global conscience. If anything, the much-needed international focus on the campaign against the Taliban has outlined how difficult the fight has become, despite our steady military gains.
To Win the Peace, Afghans Must Be in the Driver’s Seat
In “The U.S. Needs to Talk to the Taliban” a New York Times op-ed run on March 19, Borhan Osman mistakenly reduces the popularly elected National Unity Government (NUG) of Afghanistan to one of the internal “factions.” To the contrary, the NUG enjoys a broad popular mandate and support.
How to win the drug war in Afghanistan
Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It helps discover and inform India’s choices, and carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. ORF provides non-partisan, independent analyses and inputs on matters of security, strategy, economy, development, energy, resources and global governance to diverse decision-makers (governments, business communities, academia, civil society).
How America Can Win the Drug War in Afghanistan
This past November, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual survey of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan for 2017. As ever, the survey's findings are hardly surprising. They reflect the periodic fluctuations in the amount of opium poppy cultivated and produced in the country. Last year, cultivation increased to 328,000 hectares and production to nine thousand metric tons—a 87 percent increase over 2016.
How America Can Win the Drug War in Afghanistan
This past November, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual survey of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan for 2017. As ever, the survey’s findings are hardly surprising. They reflect the periodic fluctuations in the amount of opium poppy cultivated and produced in the country. Last year, cultivation increased to 328,000 hectares and production to nine thousand metric tons—a 87 percent increase over 2016.
Securing the future of Afghanistan: The diaspora’s debt of service
Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It helps discover and inform India’s choices, and carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. ORF provides non-partisan, independent analyses and inputs on matters of security, strategy, economy, development, energy, resources and global governance to diverse decision-makers (governments, business communities, academia, civil society).
Securing the Future of Afghanistan: The Diaspora’s Debt of Service
The land Afghans call home is diversely populated, geographically landlocked, politically and economically undeveloped, and unfortunately located in a predatory neighborhood where at least one of its neighbors sees its raison d’être as being partly dependent on instability in Afghanistan.
Peaceful Afghanistan key to connectivity in South and Central Asia | ORF
Set up in 1990, ORF seeks to lead and aid policy thinking towards building a strong and prosperous India in a fair and equitable world. It helps discover and inform India’s choices, and carries Indian voices and ideas to forums shaping global debates. ORF provides non-partisan, independent analyses and inputs on matters of security, strategy, economy, development, energy, resources and global governance to diverse decision-makers (governments, business communities, academia, civil society).
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