ISCA Attends SAIS Event with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

Accompanied by members of the U.S. Secret Service, on January 29, 2002, Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah addressed members of the diplomat, policymaking, aid and development communities at Johns Hopkins' School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Dr. Abdullah, who visited Washington as a member of the interim government delegation, spoke about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.

Dr. Abdullah was confident that through foreign aid development and the commitment of the international community to stabilize Afghanistan and the region, his country could engage in immediate, positive rebuilding.

Like several of the interim government's spokepersons throughout their four-day visit to Washington and New York, Dr. Abdullah stressed that the world community can best assist the recovering nation by allowing Afghan citizens to define and implement their own redevelopment programs that strengthen social, academic, religious and economic institutions within the context of Afghan cultural norms.

Dr. Abdullah proudly elaborated on his nation's achievements before and during the war with the former USSR and since the overthrow of the Taliban.

In answer to questions posed by ISCA, the foreign minister also spoke passionately about the Afghan Diaspora and how expatriate Afghans are eager to return to their homeland and invest in its redevelopment. Another issue discussed in detail was safeguarding any resurgence of Wahhabi/extremist influences that might threaten democracy and the return to law and order.

More information on the event is available at http://www.sais-jhu.edu/mediastream/abdulla_0129.htm