On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center and South Asia Center welcomed UK Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Europe Tobias Ellwood and Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Dr. Harlan Ullman to “A Transatlantic Conversation on the Future of Afghanistan.”

The conversation was moderated by Director of the South Asia Center Shuja Nawaz.

Mr. Ellwood briefed the audience on his report, Stabilizing Afghanistan: Proposals for Improving Security, Governance, and Aid/Economic Development. He delved into past errors made by foreign intervening forces in the country and recommended finding a medium between remaining involved in Afghan development and encouraging autonomy so the country’s citizens may dictate the future of their nation. Mr. Ellwood also pointed to the inherent flaws in unifying the country’s diverse regions under government models common to other parts of the world. Ultimately, Mr. Ellwood called for getting more Afghan involvement in drawing up an action plan that will stabilize Afghanistan once the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) exits the country.

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