My best but it took a couple of years to realize what i was doing was a Mission Impossible there is no good political outcome from that. So we waited and practiced on waded into everybody waited. As you are aware even president rouhani to a couple of steps to the headquarters of the Pakistan Army and i think he did the right thing because when we are in islamabad their brews like to capitals in those decisions that were made so the president did the right thing but we didnt get anywhere either. They had a facetoface talk that was mysteriously halted while i thought it was Mission Impossible the way it to go to pakistan was too much accident and personality driven. When i say it was too much accident and in 2011 we thought pakistan was looking like the Peace Process and there was a gap of three months we had to work on the formula. The professor was the chairman was assassinated that afghanistan took a with a promise of a corporation so it took many more months through 2012 that i taught for the second time that maybe they would be willing to help us. At that stage they asked us to present a road map and to my surprise is the first demand was for the four top taliban commanders and conditionally but here i confess as the afghan ambassador i did not see the logic between the commanders and the peace talks. So in response to that demand at least 68 taliban commanders apparently they were arrested we demanded for they released 60 but most of those are now leading though war so here i am also excepting a blame on us with a piecemeal approach to be very much personality driven of where to start and where to go. But that is in the past and the situation is changing. What is different now that in order to provide an opportunity they are increasingly trying to establish themselves to get a hold of that geographic pockets to put their leadership inside afghanistan and leave it there. Then there denied that opportunity. Hearing that happen in that geographical area they are planning to establish their headquarters from pakistan into afghanistan that is afghans problem and that has nothing to do with me. So that is what is being done by every have those intense attacks in the country. One more area i want to say a few words than we can have a discussion but people ask how do we see challenges ahead . The one change within taliban there no longer a one united group but into four factions i can explain later but it is a good news and a bad news they act less coordinated and that we have news of fighting between two factions and this is not the first time in a few other locations also but if we want to do a talk to them which do we talk to . That makes it even more complicated than it is it presents the main threat to us of the afghan state comes from taliban but not the whole problem there other emerging threats were faced with and isis is one of those emerging threats causing us problems in the Eastern Province and you might have occurred within the last couple of days isis executed hostage hostages and among those the taliban be headed that means they are growing in that area but those small pockets that are emerging but no chitin is also a resurfacing last summer there were series of big attacks those combined cost 500 and thats is the of hallmark with the offshoots some of them are belonging to the neighboring countries theyre all trying to keep the headquarters and where but now the isis and taliban relationship in some places how does that evil . We dont know. Evil if . Guido no. We dont know. Now in terms of the growing challenges regionally they see a acis and afghanistan and they tried to enter into some nexus with the television. With the taliban. And as they support one faction and then another. This would make our life a lot more complicated than it is. In view of all of the above with the afghanistan reaction with the extended presence of troops it is very good news and we know if boots are on the ground that this is welcome but ultimately there is indeed for Afghan National security and in addition to that we need a more cohesive state and also we need help on revisiting the whole process. Following the approach that i perform board discussions they akio they q. [applause]. At this point i would read open the discussion to the floor i am certain all of you have questions as to express an interest but since i had u. S. Say captive both the of which that they can confront they have pursued day military campaign. And militarily and if that process continued successfully to open the door eventually to reconciliation but if the taliban was sufficiently weakened at the high tide and the separations it is quite clear that the government is getting more and more comfortable and well you have been in office to the military commanders the impact of these operations. Today United States is out of the combat business. But why is that any different . With this same challenges of the civilian population and the cost to attack terrorist will have this amy fax of a Central Government so inventive is still some distance to go with those problems why should we be more optimistic compared to the nato forces . Let me put it this way who created that system in 2010 and 2009 they became stronger and more professional and in those International Partners it was over entirely. After the transition and of that responsibility but almost in the beginning and was across the election across the country almost all of them were is safe but i had saved the public support with the operations within the villages and the International Forces. But it is the sons and daughters and like i said earlier than the public comes forward in support. End in the public support and like i said earlier we heard nation that is still building and developing of the Equipment Support for a long time to come. And force us to defend our country. The what would they needed the next few years for continued for a new chill support . To be honest with their responsibility to have been completed but if there is one area of support is to get the fighting and the logistics of the evacuation of the wounded. I will ask one other question with that reconciliation effort that the bond requirement is for a successful reconciliation and you push very hard to get those pakistan is on board. One thing i struggle with for reconciliation you have to the fundamental transformation with respect to afghanistan. As long as pakistan believes the goal of this strategy to have any meaningful presence in afghanistan. To read gauges of the reconciliation. It was part of my job to understand is a concern or ambition . But given the security field also with the creation so that was more intense and then have more of a concern to accuse india to support afghanistan broochs not true. As they have access to all kinds of information. But they have the reason to be concerned. What they want from us is that we hear the independent country. But it is the relationship with india some people wonder if i ever come across i did not see it that way but they said they should but towards each other but to push that has an issue but of course, they have ambitions provided they give us the same towards india. So why is the incentive . And then to help you. So it is better to take the one because the u. S. Believes day strategy. The United States should make that conditional. But that was is not included in the but how you ask us and it is all clear. Given the u. S. Policy and pakistan have argue wage this prospect . With they created it in 1994. The lately what ive understand come read that is not what they want for the taliban to participate. That is the phrase. So this is supposed to take place with the taliban and enjoyed the political process. To the imagined the extraordinary solution . Till the parts of the discussion the taliban could be transformed into a political force. But before that was the vision of the constitution to allow for the taliban to that process but in my opinion there is an indication that if that happens one year from now theyre all inside afghanistan. And it is definitely the case so wit is definitely the case so we must find a new approach to the Peace Process and for it to be mediated. Every Peace Process needs a mediator. Before then 11 9 11 there was a taliban government that dialogue was mediated by the united nations. Thank budget is the afghan state. And our friendly countries they are not mediators. Who is . But it is a traditional mechanism. To have the impartial leader. Thank you. Please identify yourself and if you could keep your questions to the. Hello, tom lynch, good to see you. Thank you for your illuminating comments. I am tempted to ask about the current process because you alluded to several things that observers fear of indicated really are challenging to make this process work forward in accord with the two things that you talked about. Accord with the two things up on the theme and this piece reconciliation process and pakistans aims. China did not make it into their marks. He talked about iran and russia henry talked about pakistans interest much as you wrote about in thethe New York Times saying pakistan had not changed his pakistan had not changed his , your successor testified in afghanistan on the process that it was pakistan that is the problem right now for peace and security, but the chinese have a longstanding relationship command there is increasing evidence that they had taken a more active role in trying to find a way to encourage the pakistanis to encourage etm. And i think the president has approached the chinese vigorously. I wonder if you would just talk about since you finished, could you talk about what has changed in the chinese approach and whether or not the approach might have the prospect of assisting movement and pakistans aims or initiatives or helping the Afghanistan Government get the Peace Process moving in the way you discussed . Okay. In my assessment there are three main reasons for china to take interest. One is a Security Threat to china itself. China thinks that it is more based in afghanistan are at least parting through afghanistan with china which becomes one part of chinese interest command in this one when we were in government we started the dialogue with china and i actually was the interface with china with the ministry of interior and the ministry of security. And i was clearly seeing that they were very much concerned about the eti am and needed help from afghanistan. Initially in my 1st meeting with china i realized that they were so misinformed that the Afghan NationalSecurity Force dominance is limited to kabul. When they realized the force that was controlling the remotest part. They turn to us for help, but there were two other reasons, more economic. The economic corridor linking which is already contacted to china. That corridor is not just a role. It is a corridor were not a huge area how could they invest 46 billion in that corridor if there was risk to the corridor within the region of 1 kilometer. Im sorry, 100 kilometers. So they took a keen interest in resolving the taliban issue. The 3rd was the investment afghanistan. To extract copper they need security. Thats the key reason for china. We welcome that. But there is a lack of sincerity. No matter how much pressure or incentives come from china, there is still that lack of sincerity, china will not be able to have a huge impact. Yes, maam. Thank you for being here today. I wanted to ask you from your perspective and a nonwestern perspective what is the impact, and perhaps you can offer insight into how iran is thinking from a nonwestern perspective . Thank you. Well, whenwell, when i started as afghan ambassador in iran we started thinking of a new approach to our relationship. Between afghanistan and pakistan. That relationship should not be affected by our friendship with the United States and their animosity. That should remain bilateral and be independent. I think we were successful. We were having good relationships despite the Huge International presence, iran participated generously when we have problem of trade we could do it. Now, as far as the aspect is concerned we dont like the Nuclear Weapons in our neighborhood. India is nuclear. Very problematic never had. It looks like were sitting on an atom bomb. We dont like it, but we cannot do anything about it. Just wait for the microphone. Political and social activist. Since he loves discussions i highlighted a few points. First, what is the ground reality . There are rumors of both local government and International Forces were involved intentional. Since you were really involved can you tell us the three big achievements in the 3rd as for my information you will be running for president ial election. We need to know right now, what will be the difference between you and mr. President county that you are running against . And the 3rd one, which is a little bit funny, as you were saying, why you do not want to criticize the government, doing diplomacy. Ii hope i remember. If i forget, you remind me. Never listened to conspiracy theory. What actually happened was that it was usually for three days they put all of the forces and trade and usually they take a holiday. Many of the check posts are symbolic because many people go home. That is what the taliban thought for strategists took advantage of. Like i said, there are lessons to be learned low level of politicization when you form a government is a using ministry of defense his mind and ministry of interior is yours and it becomes two different lines of command. It becomes difficult in coordination between mid and lower level. That is a weakness in coordination. And i know the pres. Has launched an investigation, appointed ainvestigation, appointed a commission command appointed me to be head of the commission. I am sure that they will take a decision. Nobody wanted to take on coups but the taliban. President karzais area. When i think about this, a major achievement was the National Unity afghanistan. You needed a visa to go from one part of the city to another part. You can go from the eastern part of the city to pressure off. That was the situation. Now that unity is complete and it is reflected in all of the institutions come army, police, judicial system, the bureaucratic. Some of the top one is the National Unity. The scale and the quality. We have to start with a borrowed capacity 14 years ago. Education was distracted 20 years before that. In the past 14 years there is enormous progress teammate. Like i said in my presentation, right now you have almost half a million enrolled in Higher Education inside the country. Over 100,000 have been on scholarships abroad meaning neighboring countries, too. This is the 2nd major achievement of the palisades time. The 3rd one is democracy. In a country which was a flaw for many decades now you have one of the best constitutions and know the Democratic Institutions that have been rebuilt. Of course democracy does not grow overnight. Of course the list is longer. Running for presidency, it is far too early to speak about that. But when you say what is better i would not in the context of rallying, but i would say i weigh more. [laughter] when you say why i do not criticize the National Government is because im not in afghanistan. If you coach afghanistan asked me question my answer could be different. Yes, sir. Thank you very much. Timely. A scholar with the jones of his university and my focused this southeast asia. You talked about pakistan and the Peace Process. My question is somehow wrong perspective of how pakistan which is the involvement of saudi arabia and iran, if you a call with have to mosques inside kabul. Of course both countries are influential. President romani during his 1st month of the office traveled to china and saudi arabia. Which i think the previous government also did the same thing because they are influential and can help the process. The looking at the longterm perspective of those involved with afghanistan and also one thing that differentiated, conflict and war was not along the line of sectarianism. If you look at the longterm involvement of the two countries, how you see that playing longterm . Competition is not limited to afghanistan commands you said. We dont have any sectarian problems. How do we deal with that . Each of them are trying. I would say that i want to let my americans cigarette the soviet matches. I think we should make good use. Looking at negative rivalries. They might be negatively affected. Next line privately at how we can take advantage of those for the construction and economic and all the other kind of relationships. They cannot live in that part of the world not having good relationships with saudi arabia because of obvious reasons and iran is our neighbor. So we must find a more constructive way of dealing with them together, take advantage of their resources and knowledge. At least iran is rich and i am sure you must be aware 55,000 afghans are back in afghanistan, most of them. They are my and your brothers and sisters. We should look at that aspect. The young lady. I work with sarah chase at the carnegie endowment. Sarah recently published a book where she argues that corruption threatens global security. The ordinary have come to have been slighted by the public official who refuse to bribe or whose sister was raped by a judge and finds in the taliban an attractive option for numerous reasons including its ability to provide an alternate worldview in which the strict imposition of a 2,000 25 can address greed and public corruption. We see from the memos of the special Inspector General for afghanistan that corruption permeates the missionary but particularly devastating is corruption at the highest levels of government, particularly . Karzai government among the cabinet members which you were part of. I was just wondering how you see what measures you see that can be put in place to rein in on top politicians corruption among the highest levels of government which deals a symb