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Events

Online Event Fri, February 4, 2022 • 12:30 pm ET

In power after six months: What lies ahead for Afghanistan under the Taliban
Afghanistan Economy & Business Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
Tue, June 21, 2016 • 9:00 am ET

International commitment to Afghanistan
Afghanistan Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Mon, April 18, 2016 • 1:30 pm ET

Motley’s law: The new age of legal representation
Afghanistan Human Rights Rule of Law
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Event Recap

Dec 8, 2015

Building regional stability: Addressing Pakistan’s conflict-displaced persons

By Nicole Pfeifer

On December 3, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted Mr. John Groarke, US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director, to discuss efforts to bring stability to the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in Pakistan and the greater region.  Joined by The Hon James Cunningham, Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan and currently a […]

Pakistan Security Partnerships

Event Recap

Nov 4, 2015

US-India bilateral relations

By Nicole Pfeifer

On November 4, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted a discussion on US-India bilateral relations, in collaboration with the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).  Dr. Bharath Gopalaswamy, Director of the South Asia Center, opened the dialogue, which aimed at addressing the ways in which the US-India relationship can be sustained, and ultimately advanced to new […]

India United States and Canada

Event Recap

Jun 12, 2015

Building self-reliance and prosperity in Afghanistan

By South Asia Center

On June 11, 2015 Paul Ross, Mission Chief for Afghanistan, International Monetary Fund (IMF) spoke with South Asia Center Senior Fellow and Khalilzad Chair Ambassador James B. Cunningham about the IMF’s involvement in Afghanistan and its efforts to help revitalize the Afghan economy. He briefed the audience on the recently-concluded agreement with the Afghan Government on an IMF Staff […]

Afghanistan

Ambassador James B. Cunningham joined the Atlantic Council in May 2015 as a senior fellow in the South Asia Center. He became a nonresident senior fellow in May 2016. He served as ambassador to Afghanistan (August 2012 to December 2014), and as deputy ambassador (2011 – 2012). He was ambassador to Israel (2008 -2011), consul general for Hong Kong and Macau (2005 – 2008), ambassador and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations in New York (1999 – 2004), and acting permanent representative to the United Nations for the first nine months of 2001, including on 9/11.

After early tours in Stockholm, Washington, Rome, and the US Mission to NATO, NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner selected Ambassador Cunningham as his chief of staff (1988 – 1990). He advised the Secretary General on all NATO issues in the context of nuclear disarmament in Europe, the collapse of the Berlin wall and the reunification of Germany, and the impending dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union.

Just after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, Ambassador Cunningham became deputy political counselor at the US Mission to the United Nations. In 1992, he became the deputy director of the State Department Office of European Security and Political Affairs (1992 – 1993) and then director (1993 – 1995). He served as deputy chief of mission at the Embassy in Rome (1996 – 1999). 

Ambassador Cunningham was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with degrees in political science and psychology. He is married to Leslie Genier of Mineville, New York. They have two daughters. Ambassador Cunningham is the recipient of multiple awards from the State Department, the National Performance Review’s Hammer Award for Innovation in Management, the US President’s Meritorious Service Award (twice), and has received awards from the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, the Secretary of Defense, the Afghan government, and Syracuse University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Asia Society. Ambassador Cunningham retired from government service in December 2014 with the rank of career minister.