PRESS CONFERENCE
H.E. Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

13:00-14:00 Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.

Afghanistan is experiencing a sharp deterioration at almost all levels - economic, social and security. It’s been two years since the hard-line Taliban government overthrew the government of President Ashraf Ghani without resistance. 

Global interest in the Afghan crisis has taken a back seat and Afghans feel abandoned by the international community as the Taliban government imposes a policy of complete isolation. 

Women and girls face further restrictions. They are banned from not only secondary schools, universities, and public administrations but also parks, gyms as well as beauty salons. United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown labeled it a "crime against humanity."

The cultivation and trade of opium is also flourishing again. At a recent meeting with Taliban representatives in Qatar, the U.S voiced serious concern on the sale of opiates and analysts say the U.S is eager to curb China's growing ties with the Taliban. 

Another major security threat in Afghanistan are regular terrorist bombings and clashes between its forces and ISIS, with some analyses calling it a proxy war by international spy agencies in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Abdali will shed more light on the current situation, future prospects, and what Japan can do for his country.

How to attend: 
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding. 

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live 
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel. 

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/fbD5zy9cJ41NXr4H9 
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. 

Professional Activities Committee