The CAIS director, Prof Amin Saikal, and three of his ANU colleagues, Prof William Maley, Director of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, Mr Tony Godfrey-Smith, a Visiting Fellow a the College of Diplomacy, and Mr Shayeq Qassem, a research scholar at CAIS – taught a week-long program in diplomacy to the staff of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, 11-14 December 2005.

This was an ANU-sponsored program, funded by the ANU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ian Chubb. It was the first of its kind to be convened in Kabul as a contribution to Afghanistan’s capacity building. The program, opened by the Afghan Foreign Minister, HE Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Prof Saikal, was attended by some 50 Afghan diplomats. At the end participants were given ANU certificates of participation. The program proved to be highly successful. Dr Abdullah expressed his deepest appreciation to Prof Chubb and the ANU for such a valuable contribution. He wished the program to be convened yearly at least over the next two years – a message that Prof Saikal has conveyed to Prof Chubb for his consideration.