Afghanistan and the Region: Options for Australia

A one day conference organised jointly by The Centre for Muslim States and Societies, The University of Western Australia, and The Australian Institute of International Affairs for Western Australia

The strategic scenario in Afghanistan and Pakistan is rapidly changing with President Trump’s announcement of a revamped US policy vis-à-vis the region. He has decided to increase the US troop presence in Afghanistan with the aim of ‘not nation-building …[but] killing terrorists’. His declared expectation of allies to do the same could include a request to the Australian Government to commit more troops to Afghanistan. The possibility of Australia returning to a combat role in Afghanistan to counter Taliban resurgence raises a number of questions about the future scenarios in the region. These include:
•    What are the main challenges to ensuring Afghanistan’s stability and how could they best be met through regional responses?
•    How could Afghanistan and Pakistan work together to meet these challenges?
•    What are the likely responses of other regional states to the revised US strategy on Afghanistan, particularly China and India?
•    What policy options does Australia have in the region in terms of increasing combat role and/or finding political solutions to the continuing instability in Afghanistan?
The one-day Conference on Afghanistan and the Region aims to explore answers to these questions.  Conference to be held under Chatham House rules in order to facilitate discussion.

Speakers Include:

•    Keynote Speech: HE Mr. Masood Khalid, Ambassador of Pakistan to Peoples’ Republic of China, Beijing.
•    Ms. Rachel L. Cooke, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General, Perth
•    Professor Amin Saikal, Director, Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra
•    Emeritus Professor James Trevelyan, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth.
•    Dr Rajat Ganguly, Academic Chair, Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies, Murdoch University, Perth. 
•    Dr Leah Farrall, Former Counter Terrorism Intelligence Analyst, Canberra.
•    Dr Shanthie Mariet D’Souza, Murdoch University and Founder & President of Mantraya, Perth.
•    David Singer, Afghanistan Veteran, and Member of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL). 
•    Professor Samina Yasmeen, Director, Centre for Muslim States and Societies, University of Western Australia, Perth.
•    Professor William Maley Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, Australian National University, Canberra (tbc)

Cost: $100 standard; $50 students (To be paid in cash at the venue. Costs include morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea)
Registration is required via email to azim.zahir@uwa.edu.au before 4 October 2017.

For more information contact:
Azim Zahir
Research Assistant and PhD Candidate
Centre for Muslim States and Societies
University of Western Australia
azim.zahir@uwa.edu.au
M: 0417 800 303