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Resources and Publications

Publications and Podcasts

• In June 2023, Aref Dostyar authored a policy article with Zmarai Farahi, an Afghan peacemaking practitioner, titled "What Could Shape the Conditions for Dialogue in Afghanistan?" The article was published by PeaceRep through the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

• In March 2023, Pulte Institute’s Global Pathway Podcast published a conversation between Ray Offenheiser and Aref Dostyar to provide a status update on the situation in Afghanistan.

• In February 2023, Aref Dostyar and Ray Offenheiser wrote a blog post titled “Taliban’s Ban on Women Deepens Afghan Hunger Crisis.”

• In January 2023, AfPAD Advisor Malalai Habibi co-wrote a piece with Karen Karnicki from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Harriet Knox Brown from Peace Direct: "Despite the Challenges, Donors Must Continue to Support Struggling Nonprofits in Afghanistan."

• In January 2023, Roqia Samim and Tahmnia Sobat, two Notre Dame Law School graduates and affiliates of AfPAD, wrote a piece titled “Afghan Women’s Rights as the Taliban’s Bargaining Tool for Recognition”, which was featured by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

• In November 2022, Lisa Schirch edited the Kroc Institute’s Peace Policy Brief and dedicated it to Afghanistan. Four leading experts from the field of peacebuilding contributed articles with concrete policy recommendations to the U.S. government, international organizations, and Afghanistan’s leaders.

• In November 2022, Pulte Institute published Nilofar Sakhi’s policy research on “People-centered Approaches to Development and Human Security in Afghanistan”.

• In October-November 2022, the Religious Freedom Institute published five policy papers by Afghan civil society leaders and peacebuilding experts with AfPAD’s cooperation in the series called “Afghanistan: The Next Chapter”. Policy topics included the need for a global inclusive engagement with Afghanistan by Aref Dostyar, a peace process by Dr. Qasim Wafayezada, political dialogues by Fawzia Kofi, women and minority groups’ engagement by Palwasha Kakar, and a concluding paper to the series highlighting the importance of taking action by Charles Ramsey.

• In August 2022, Nilofar Sakhi published an op-ed with The National Interest titled, "Do Not Engage the Taliban for Free." 

• In August 2022, Aref Dostyar as part of his work at AfPAD wrote an article with another former government official titled, “Why the Afghan peace process failed, and what could come next?” Dostyar has a number of other publications on peace and stability in Afghanistan.
• In August 2022, Roqia Samim wrote an article titled “The State of Women’s Rights and Freedoms after the Taliban Takeover” that was published by the Notre Dame University’s Law School.
• In July 2022, Nilofar Sakhi wrote an op-ed for The Hill tilted "The Taliban has failed to gain legitimacy — what can be done?"
• As part of his work with Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Research Professor Madhav Joshi has published many blogs and op-eds on peacebuilding, inclusive peace processes, and women’s rights in Afghanistan. Joshi most recently published policy research reports including “Assessing Implementation of the 2020 US-Taliban Peace Accord” and “Building a Network for a Successful Peace Process in Afghanistan: Social Network Analysis of the Afghan Peace Process Actors.”
• Lisa Schirch, Richard G. Starmann, Sr. Professor of the Practice of Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute, published the United States Institute of Peace report Designing a Comprehensive Peace Process in Afghanistan (2011). She engages in ongoing work to amplify the voices of Afghan civil society experts on peace and human security.
• In January 2022, as part of The Kroc Cast podcast series, the Kroc Institute published the episode, “What’s Happening with Afghan Women: An Inside Look.” The episode, hosted by Malalai Habibi (MGA ’19), featured guests Mahbouba Seraj, Executive Director of Afghan Women Skills Development Center who is joining us from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Founder and Executive Director of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and director of the London School of Economics Center for Women, Peace and Security.
• In 2021, the Pulte Institute for Global Development Director Ray Offenheiser’s Global Pathways Podcast featured an episode, “Spotlight on Afghanistan: A grassroots perspective on the plight of Afghan women and refugees.” Offenheiser, Professor of the Practice, formerly led Oxfam America where he interfaced with U.S. development efforts in Afghanistan. The Pulte Institute also published a policy brief co-authored by Susanne Jalbert, David Cortright, and Robert Lord-Biggers and titled  “Gender and Politics: Maintaining Women’s Meaningful Participation in Afghanistan” (2020).
• David Cortright,  Director of the Global Policy Initiative and Special Advisor for Policy Studies at the Keough School, co-authored with Kristin Wall the policy report Afghan Women Speak: Enhancing Security and Human Rights in Afghanistan (2012). Cortright also published the book Ending Obama’s War: Responsible Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan (Routledge, 2011).

Public Policy Forums

• In April 2023, AfPAD and Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) co-hosted a webinar on the question “How Should the UN Respond to the Taliban’s Prohibition on Afghan Women Working for the UN?” Aref Dostyar moderated the discussion.

• In February 2023, AfPAD and Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) co-organized a webinar entitled “Renewing the UN’s Mandate in Afghanistan under the Taliban: Reflections and Recommendations”. Laurie Nathan moderated this conversation.

• In December 2022, AfPAD’s Lisa Schirch and the Alliance for Peacebuilding co-hosted a public event titled “Using Technology to Support Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding Efforts in Afghanistan.”

• In November 2022, AfPAD brought experts into a webinar to discuss how the region and global community could support Afghan factions to construct a government that is inclusive of all ethnic, religious, minority, women, and underrepresented groups.

• In October 2022, women and men from inside and outside Afghanistan convened in a hybrid event organized by AfPAD to propose actionable policies to involve marginalized populations in aid and development in Afghanistan. Keough School has published a report and recording of the event.

• In September 2022, AfPAD co-organized a public policy forum titled "Afghanistan: The Next Chapter" together with Keston Center for Religion, Politics, and Society at Baylor University. 

• In September 2022, Aref Dostyar moderated a public forum titled, “One Year after the Fall: What Are the Prospects for a Political Process in Afghanistan?”. This panel provided an analysis on the impact of the first year of Taliban’s rule on the future of Afghanistan.

• May 2022, Aref Dostyar and Lisa Schirch facilitated a public policy forum titled "Afghanistan: What Risk of Armed Conflict?". Afghan panelists analyzed the dynamics between different armed groups, including the Taliban regime, in Afghanistan.

• In February 2022, Laurie Nathan and Kristian Berg Harpviken from Peace Research Institute of Oslo co-hosted a public policy forum titled “Revising the Mandate for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan: Reflections on the Recommendations of the UN Secretary-General”

• In October 2021, Mediation Program Director Laurie Nathan convened a public seminar in Washington, D.C., on “Prioritizing Afghan Voices: How the International Community Can Assist Afghanistan.” During the event, Afghan speakers made concrete policy proposals, including offering input on a possible post-Doha Bonn conference and regional dialogue. The Mediation Program previously convened a webinar on “U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Afghan Women Speak Out.” The Program has a partnership with Global Impact Management Consulting, which seeks to empower Afghan peacemakers at local level.

• In August 2021, the Kroc Institute co-hosted the event, “Flash Panel: The Unfolding Situation in Afghanistan.” The event featured conversation unpacking the events directly following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and discussing what comes next in Afghanistan, the prognosis for human rights and women’s rights throughout the country, and the role of international actors and NGOs in navigating the current crisis. 

Intra-Afghan Dialogues and Other Work

• In 2023, AfPAD initiated a sustained Dialogue and Visioning Group among Afghans from diverse backgrounds. The initiative brings together a group of peacebuilding and peacemaking experts to explore opportunities for a negotiated process to address humanitarian, development, and political futures for Afghanistan.
• In February 2022, Aref Dostyar and Laurie Nathan organized a Track 2 Dialogue titled “How Should the International Community Respond to the Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan?” A diverse group of Afghan leaders and representatives from the international community, including the UN and aid agencies, participated in the dialogue which aimed to enhance understanding on effective policies for aid delivery and reviving Afghanistan’s economy.
• The Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) team at the Kroc Institute is working to distill best practices in peacemaking and peace agreement design and implementation to support facilitators, negotiators, and conflict parties working in Afghanistan. PAM Director Josefina Echavarría Alvarez works with PAM’s research associates and partners who provide expert briefs and substantive advice on issues related to peace in Afghanistan.
• The Contending Modernities (CM) research initiative at the Kroc Institute analyzes the role religion plays in the constitutional and legal order of Afghanistan. Ebrahim Moosa, CM Co-Director and Mirza Family Professor of Islamic Thought and Muslim Societies, is examining the judicial and legislative developments under the Taliban as well as working to engage a new generation of Madrasa-educated theologians on issues of revitalizing and exploring theology and tradition. A tried and tested educational curriculum piloted in other parts of South Asia helps traditional Muslim scholars (ulamā) in South and Central Asia to navigate a number of social, political, theological, and legal issues by deepening their theological and scientific literacy.