A New Approach to Fighting Terrorism in Afghanistan

UPDATE:  Unfortunately, a last minute change to the Ambassador’s schedule means that we must postpone this event until further notice.

The strategic importance of Afghanistan as a base for jihadist terrorists is increasingly evident. Taliban officials warn that they are gearing up for a major “spring offensive” against NATO forces in the coming months (‘Spring Offensive‘ ABC News, 3/4/07). Senior Taliban official Mullah Dadullah has recently announced that Taliban and al Qaeda operatives, including bin Laden, are in touch and “share plans.” And last week’s Taliban suicide attack against Afghanistan’s Bagram air base during Vice President Cheney’s visit there seemed to bolster Dadullah’s claim that thousands of Taliban fighters are preparing to carry out suicide bombing attacks in 2007, in what some predict will be a make-or-break year.

In a rare public address to the Washington policy community, Ambassador Said T. Jawad will respond to President Bush’s recent remarks at the Mayflower Hotel, in which the President laid out a new five point plan for establishing security in Afghanistan. The President’s plan includes increasing the size and capabilities of the Afghan security forces, strengthening the NATO forces currently there, developing the rural economy and infrastructure, eliminating the cultivation of poppy, and fighting corruption at the judicial level. Ambassador Jawad will discuss the current challenges in state-building and will give an overall briefing on the state of security and reconstruction. A question-and-answer session will follow, moderated by New America Foundation Schwartz Senior Fellow and CNN Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen.

Participants

• Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad (bio)
  Afghan Ambassador to the United States
• Peter Bergen (introduction and comments)
  Schwartz Senior Fellow, New America Foundation