A conversation with
The Hon. Zalmay M. Khalilzad
Former US ambassador to the UN, Iraq, and Afghanistan; and President and CEO
Gryphon Partners
The Hon. Zalmay M. Khalilzad
Former US ambassador to the UN, Iraq, and Afghanistan; and President and CEO
Gryphon Partners
Mr. David S. Sedney
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia
Moderated by
Mr. Shuja Nawaz
Director, South Asia Center
Atlantic Council
As the Afghan people and the international community await final results of the 2014 Afghanistan elections, there are renewed concerns about the future stability of the country. Major fraud allegations surfacing immediately after the June 14th run-off challenge the legitimacy of the entire process, and threaten the next government’s ability to unite the country against mounting concerns. The next president faces the daunting task of simultaneously coalescing ethnic and political groups, reducing security threats, and reviving Afghanistan’s weak economy. Given the current stalemate, will Afghans see a peaceful transfer of power and a government ready to face these challenges? How will the US and coalition partners assist in easing Afghanistan’s difficult transition given President Obama’s withdrawal timetable? Zalmay Khalilzad and David Sedney will provide firsthand insight into the current electoral imbroglio and the shape of the Afghan political scene.
DATE: Tuesday, July 8, 2014
TIME: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Atlantic Council
1030 15th St. NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
On Twitter? Follow @ACSouthAsia and use #ACAfghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad is the president and CEO of Gryphon Partners. From 2007 to 2009, he served as US Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Prior to that, he served as US Ambassador to Iraq (2005-2007) and US ambassador to Afghanistan (2003 to 2005). He also served as US Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan (2001 to 2003). Amb. Khalilzad maintains close ties with high-level leadership throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, and is regularly called upon to provide strategic advice to numerous heads of state. He appears frequently on US and foreign media outlets to share his foreign policy expertise. Amb. Khalilzad earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the American University of Beirut, as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
David Sedney was deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs from 2009-2013 and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia from 2007-2009. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beijing from 2004-2007. From 2003-2004 Sedney was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Kabul, where he was Charge d’Affaires from August-November 2003. Sedney was also Deputy Chief of Mission in Kabul in 2002, after the re-opening of the embassy. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Suffolk University School of Law. He has received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award six times, and Department of State's Meritorious Honor Award twice. He attended Louisiana State University’s School of Law where he studied Law of the Sea and International Law. Sedney is a distinguished graduate of the National War College.
TIME: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Atlantic Council
1030 15th St. NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
On Twitter? Follow @ACSouthAsia and use #ACAfghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad is the president and CEO of Gryphon Partners. From 2007 to 2009, he served as US Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Prior to that, he served as US Ambassador to Iraq (2005-2007) and US ambassador to Afghanistan (2003 to 2005). He also served as US Special Presidential Envoy to Afghanistan (2001 to 2003). Amb. Khalilzad maintains close ties with high-level leadership throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, and is regularly called upon to provide strategic advice to numerous heads of state. He appears frequently on US and foreign media outlets to share his foreign policy expertise. Amb. Khalilzad earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the American University of Beirut, as well as a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
David Sedney was deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs from 2009-2013 and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia from 2007-2009. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beijing from 2004-2007. From 2003-2004 Sedney was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Kabul, where he was Charge d’Affaires from August-November 2003. Sedney was also Deputy Chief of Mission in Kabul in 2002, after the re-opening of the embassy. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Suffolk University School of Law. He has received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award six times, and Department of State's Meritorious Honor Award twice. He attended Louisiana State University’s School of Law where he studied Law of the Sea and International Law. Sedney is a distinguished graduate of the National War College.