Evidence session with former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan
The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will take evidence from a former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan and experts on aid and development in the country.
The Committee will ask about the prospects for the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the development and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan and the future of foreign aid, including UK development assistance, in tackling those challenges.
Meeting details
At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
The UK and Afghanistan
former British Ambassador at Afghanistan
At 11:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry
The UK and Afghanistan
Director at Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Managing Director at AfghanAid
Senior Research Associate at Overseas Development Institute
Possible questions
- What would you identify as the biggest development and humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan?
- What are the prospects for the negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban?
- How can the participation of women and minorities in politics and society be supported in the context of the talks?
- To what extent have international and domestic efforts to build Afghanistan’s institutionsand measures to promote the rights of women, freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression, and anti-corruption initiatives been successful?
- What impact is the COVID-19 pandemic having on Afghanistan? What are the most serious effects of the pandemic beyond the immediate health of the population?
- What would be the consequences of a reduction in foreign aid? Is the Afghan economy capable of generating enough growth to compensate for any cuts to foreign assistance?
- What should be the UK’s priorities for engagement with Afghanistan in the next five to 10 years, and what impact might the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have on this?
Further Information