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Bringing Armed Groups to the Peace Process in Afghanistan

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018 / Time: 9:30am - 11:00am 

Center: Applied Conflict Transformation Center

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Peace negotiations to end the war in Afghanistan remain elusive, despite years of effort and a growing consensus that no side is likely able to defeat the other militarily.  The Afghan government, United States, and Taliban leadership all profess openness to a peace deal, but efforts have suffered from mistrust, conflicting objectives, and each party’s efforts to break the military stalemate.  Afghanistan in the meantime continues to face widespread violence, insurgent control of large swathes of the countryside, and major economic challenges.

We invite you to join the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum at the U.S. Institute of Peace on January 25, as a panel of leading experts will discuss options for advancing peace talks, reaching an inclusive political settlement, and transitioning Taliban and other insurgents off the battlefield and into nonviolent politics.

Since 1999, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum (CPRF) has provided a monthly platform in Washington for highlighting innovative and constructive methods of conflict resolution. CPRF’s goals are to (1) provide information from a wide variety of perspectives; (2) explore possible solutions to complex conflicts; and (3) provide a secure venue for stakeholders from various disciplines to engage in cross-sector and multi-track problem-solving. The CPRF is traditionally hosted at SAIS and organized by the Conflict Management Program in conjunction with Search for Common Ground and is co-sponsored by a consortium of organizations that specialize in conflict resolution and/or public policy formulation.

Continue the conversation on Twitter with #CPRF. 

Speakers

Johnny Walsh, moderator
Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S. Institute of Peace

Dr. Alexander Ramsbotham
Head of Accord and Series Editor, Conciliation Resources

Laurel E. Miller 
Senior Political Scientist, RAND Corporation

Javid Ahmad
Afghanistan Analyst, Atlantic Council

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