Study Group: External Interests Affecting Afghanistan (Afghanistan: What Happened & How to Engage the Taliban, Session #3)

​Overview: The recent collapse of the Afghan Government was witnessed by a global audience as the U.S. and NATO forces evacuated their citizens and affiliated Afghan staff from the country.  The emergence of the Taliban likewise raises a number of important questions.  What were the forces that caused the rapid downfall of the Afghan government and the rise of the Taliban?  

In this study group, we will take a look at such broad questions.  We will also evaluate the economic situation in Afghanistan and consider different mechanisms to deal with the Taliban moving forward.  The key conceptual questions include:
*What happened in Afghanistan that led to the rapid downfall of the government?  This will include an analysis of the peace process, regional interests, and domestic challenges
*How should the international community engage with the Taliban regime moving forward?
M-RCBG Senior Fellow Ajmal Ahmady, former Central Bank Governor of Afghanistan, invites participants to a series of five sessions to review what went wrong in Afghanistan and analyze how to engage with the Taliban regime. 
This event is part of a series. Advance registration is required for each session and seating is limited. For the complete schedule, see: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/mrcbg/students/sg/ahmady.2021.fall

Session #3: This study group session will examine the external interests and factors that contributed to state collapse in Afghanistan.  This includes a review of the Doha peace deal, regional interests, and Biden’s decision to withdraw fully from Afghanistan.  Will be of interest to those who are interested in peace issues, regional economic issues, and the U.S. decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Advance registration and an HUID are required in order to attend. Seating is limited. https://forms.gle/59MP8pP2Z3KDmuXQ9