SIS USFP Event: The Future of Afghanistan
Mon, Apr 26, 2021 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
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SIS USFP Event – The Future of Afghanistan: A Conversation with Rahmatullah
About this Event
In the wake of the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw all US troops by September 11th, 2021, many questions arise about the future of Afghanistan and its people. Will the Taliban expand its control? What’s next for the intra-Afghan peace process? How will the rights of women and ethnic minorities be impacted? Former Director of the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) Rahmatullah Nabil and Former Associate Deputy Director of the CIA for Operations (ADDO) Bruce Valentine will discuss these questions and others such as the Istanbul conference preparations, his view on the prospects for success, and international and GoA efforts to build the NDS from scratch post 9-11. Dr. Eric J. Novotny will moderate the discussion.
Event registrants will receive an email with information about how to join this webinar.
Biographies
Mr. Rahmatullah Nabil was born in Jaghato district of Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan. He is a civil engineer and speaks fluent Dari, Pashto and English. He has served in several branches of UNHCR, working on aid supplying to the Afghan refugees. Mr. Nabil joined the Afghan government as deputy national security advisor in 2002. He then laid the foundation of Presidential Protection Service (PPS) and has served as the head of the PPS. He managed to create and build this service into one of the best security services of Afghan government which is unique in the region. In 2010, he was appointed as director-general of the National Directorate of Security (NDS)- the country’s principal intelligence agency and has served in the agency for two years. During his tenure in NDS his vision was to bring reforms in order to increase the effectiveness and operational capability of NDS. After two years, he was appointed as deputy national security advisor and then he rejoined the NDS as acting general director in September 2013.
Mr. Nabil has no political affiliation and has served as a high-ranking military officer with complete political neutrality and has only Afghan citizenship. Mr. Nabils was praised with two high military and civilian medals- the Ghazi Ayoub Khan’s medal and the Ghazi Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan’s medal. Besides these official decorations, Mr. Nabil has also received an appreciation letter from the Afghan Civil Society Association for his effective efforts in the implementation and oversight of human rights in all NDS detention centers. He resigned as NDS director in December 2015.
Mr.Bruce Valentine is the former Associate Deputy Director of the CIA for Operations (ADDO). Previously a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army, Valentine joined the CIA in 1994. During the early stage of his career, he held overseas assignments in Central Asia, the Caucuses, and the Balkans. Following September 11, 2001, Valentine served in senior, front-office leadership assignments in a war zone station during two separate assignments. Later, he was Chief of Station in two Balkan locations; in one African location; and in one hostile, denied area. Valentine also served as operational tradecraft instructor and, within CIA Headquarters, directed operational activities at the regional-, hemispheric-, and global-levels. His last position within the Directorate of Operations was as the Associate Deputy Director of the CIA for Operations (ADDO). He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, a graduate of Georgetown University with a master’s degree in international affairs, and a certificate holder from the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
Eric J. Novotny is the Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and Director of the MA programs in Comparative and Regional Studies (CRS), Global Governance, Politics & Security (GGPS), and US Foreign Policy and National Security (USFP) in the School of International Service at American University. Prior to being Administrative Director, he was appointed Senior Advisor, Digital Media and Cyber Security at the U.S. Department of State. He was also Senior Advisor, Democracy and Technology, at the U.S. Agency for International Development. From 2006-2011, he was Senior Vice President at the Civilian Research and Development Foundation. Novotny held senior executive positions at Lockheed Martin and at Hughes Electronics and is a former U.S. Air Force officer. At AU, Novotny is also a Faculty Fellow of the Internet Governance Laboratory.
This event is co-sponsored by the SIS Office of Research and the US Foreign Policy and National Security program. Find the USFP program on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Registration is required for this online event. Webinar details will be sent to registered participants approximately 24 hours before the event begins.
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American University is committed to accessibility. If you need accommodations, please email usfp@american.edu at least 72 business hours before the event.
