IIM Rohtak hosts conference on recent developments in Afghanistan

Experts from India, Afghanistan and the United States participated in the conference and discussed on the developments in Afghanistan and its impact on regional and global security. 

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak organised an online conference on “Developments in Afghanistan: Status Report of work done in last two decades”. Experts from India, Afghanistan and the United States participated in the conference and discussed on the developments in Afghanistan and its impact on regional and global security. 

The primary discussion of the conference was focused on various national-building activities undertaken in Afghanistan by friendly countries over the past two decades and how the Taliban takeover in the state has impacted the lives of lakhs of people of Afghanistan. MJ Akbar, Member of Parliament and former Minister of State for External Affairs, Nargis Negan, former Minister of Mines, Afghanistan, Shahmahmood Miakhel, former First Deputy Minister of Defence and Governor of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Marvin G Weinbaum, Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies, Middle East Institute, Ambassador Jayant Prasad, former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, and others attended the conference.  

Dheeraj Sharma, Director, IIM Rohtak, said the United States entered Afghanistan 20 years ago with a hope to uproot terrorism and rebuild Afghanistan. Recent events clearly indicate that despite all efforts, the Taliban taking over has created a global crisis. Furthermore, world is not sure how the structures, infrastructure, institutions, and systems created in Afghanistan will continue to support regional stability and preclude usage of Afghan soil for international terrorism.  

MJ Akbar said Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has now resulted in convergence of CHAFPAK (China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) which will need disciplined dealing from the international community. He said many of the systems created probably were not meant for the Afghani culture. He brought out importance of Indian support for building Afghanistan in past.  

Nargis Negan said there has been news about violence, insecurity, and casualties but little news has been there about plight of Afghani women, civilian workers, media, and public sector. She said that public institutions had been well managed by the young generation who are well educated and aware about technology but today there is a vacuum. Marvin G Weinbaum said it may appear that Taliban takeover is Pakistani victory but this is far from truth.  

The IIM Rohtak Director said the discussion will be brought out in the form of white paper on development activities that were undertaken in Afghanistan and how they could be sustained.  

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