Afghanistan and its neighbourhood - the regional dimension of stability: the Wider Central Asia Initiative
| The future stability and security of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its wider neighbourhood is a key issue for the region and for the international community. With the approaching withdrawal of International Security Assistance Forces at the end of 2014 new policy approaches based on a clear understanding of the fast changing situation in the region are required. In January 2012, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launched an initiative to promote dialogue among the main stakeholders in Afghanistan’s future. |
 UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein
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A particular focus of SIPRI’s WCA Initiative is how regional security can be strengthened or developed through formal institutions and informal mechanisms to address the existing and emerging security challenges. As a part of this work, SIPRI has consulted with the Government of Afghanistan as well as bringing together experts and officials from Afghanistan’s regional neighbours—the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and five Central Asian states: the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
By bringing together key actors from the region in structured dialogues, and by providing independent analyses of the problems at hand, SIPRI hopes to provide policymakers with recommendations that could contribute to the strengthening of regional policies that support durable stability and security in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood. The initiative is supported by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Upcoming events
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16 May, Brussels
SIPRI launch of the Wider Central Asia projects analytical papers
SIPRI is planning a report launch event of two analytical reports, the first is country specific and addressing Pakistan's policies towards Afghanistan and the interests and perspectives that is shaping their approach in the region. The second, with a transatlantic theme, explores the possible future role for Europe within the context of the Transatlantic community in Afghanistan.
recent events
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4 March 2013, Washington DC
SIPRI seminar
SIPRI held a seminar on the regional dimension of stability in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood on 4 March 2013 in SIPRI's North America office in Washington, DC. The key note speech was delivered by H.E. Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States. The seminar was attended by experts from Washington's policy community. Please contact Theresa Höghammar if you would like to receive further information.
