Insights, Interviews, & Reports

The Afghanistan Question: America's Policy Impasse

The Afghanistan Question: America's Policy Impasse

On June 24, 2024, the Afghanistan Policy Lab hosted a virtual panel titled The Afghanistan Question: America's Policy Impasse. The event brought together two experts, Dave Pitts, former Assistant Director of the CIA for Central and South Asia, and Lotfullah Najafizada, founder and CEO of Amu TV and an Afghan journalist.
afghan children in classroom

Unveiling Potential: Afghan Youth as Architects of Peace and Reconciliation

On May 30th, 2024, the Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) hosted a virtual panel discussion. The event convened four expert panelists to explore the pivotal role that Afghan youth play in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. The panel was moderated by Nazeela Elmi, a current APL fellow known for her expertise in political science, gender, human rights, and international relations.
Celebrating Nowruz with SPIA community in front of Robertson Hall

Celebrating Nowruz and Welcoming Spring

On a beautiful sunny day, with Princeton SPIA’s Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL), members of the Princeton community at SPIA gathered to celebrate Nowruz outside of Robertson Hall. The splashing sound of water from the fountain of freedom, accompanied by Afghan traditional music, further glorified the celebration.
Challenges for Media in Exile

Challenges for Media in Exile and Their Struggle for Truth in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Afghan republic, the constitutional support existing for Afghan media has been eliminated by the Taliban. Their work and coverage are limited and the lives of many Afghan journalists have been in danger. Despite these challenges, the free and independent media, a significant accomplishment of the past two decades, continued to operate in exile and some with struggle and censorship in the country.
UN conference panelists

Report of the “Women’s Absence in the Taliban-controlled Political Arena and its Consequences”

On October 26, the Afghanistan Policy Lab, in collaboration with Women in International Security (WIIS) - Italy, UN Women, and the Permanent Missions of Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Greece to the United Nations, hosted a high-level side event at the UN Headquarters in New York as part of the UN Women Peace and Security Week.
UN conference attendees

Combatting Gender Apartheid: The Situation of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

On September 22, 2023 the Afghanistan Policy Lab and the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Dominican Republic, Malta, South African to the United Nations, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security hosted an event during the 78th UN General Assembly entitled "Combating Gender Apartheid: The Situation of Women & Girls in Afghanistan" at Headquarters in New York.
white flower coming out of sidewalk crack

Profiles in Perseverance: Living With Hope

To commemorate International Women’s Day, the Afghanistan Policy Lab profiled eight Afghan women, highlighting the struggle and the fight of women in the country. These profiles share the struggle of Afghan women to survive, to live and not give up their fight, and to hope. These courageous women write poignantly of the lives of Afghan women in the country today, when simply breathing is a struggle. APL dedicates this March 8 to all women in Afghanistan, and honors their struggle and fight, and to state that every Afghan woman in Afghanistan is a Hero!