A new strategic political direction in Afghanistan or „More of the Same“?
Panel Discussion
On April 5, 2014 the Afghan people voted for a new president, but no single candidate reached the threshold needed to win outright. Second-round balloting will occur next month. However, a lack of clarity concerning the unsigned bilateral security agreement between Afghanistan and the USA, as well as continual acts of violence, could endanger the new democratic beginnings in Afghanistan. The country must also deal with the redeployment of NATO combat troops at the end of this year.
What are the challenges Afghanistan faces in the next term? Will the change of government bring about a change of policies in Kabul? What should NATO engagement look like in the future, considering the unstable security situation? In which areas will the USA and Europe, as transatlantic partners, still need to support Afghanistan?
Speakers:
Ambassador Dr. Michael Koch
Special Representative of the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Federal Foreign Office
Michael Keating
Senior Consulting Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs
The discussion will be held in English and will be chaired by Dr. Henning Riecke, Head of the USA/Transatlantic Relations Program.
