A two day International Conference titled "NATO Drawdown from Afghanistan: Opportunities and Challenges", organized by the Department of Political Science, concluded today at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan.

In the Session-I, the speakers included Prof. Dr. Sarfraz Khan, Prof. Anatol Lieven and Prof. Dr. Manzoor Afridi. While speaking on the topic 'Post 2014 Afghanistan and its impacts on Security and Governance of FATA/KP and Balochistan' Prof. Dr. Sarfraz Khan added "The menace in the region led to the emergence of new terminologies such as IDPs and EDPs". He further added that out of the 7 agencies 4 have successfully been cleared by our gallant soldiers.

While speaking on the topic 'Dilemmas of US Global Order', Prof. Anatol Lieven added "The US had not planned the invasion of Afghanistan rather that was in reaction to the 9/11". He further added that the Afghan National Army is years behind it was in 1989.

Dr. Manzoor Afridi, while speaking on the topic 'Power interest and Rivalry of Major Powers (USA, Russia and China) in Central Asia' added "After the disintegration of USSR, the Central Asian states became really important and big powers such as USA, Russia and China wanted to exploit the importance of the Central Asian States in various ways".

Vice-Chancellor, University of Swabi, Prof. Dr. Noor Jehan was chairing the Session-I. In her concluding remarks, she said 'If we look at all of it, we come to know that it's the game of natural resources: One wanting to have a hold on the other's resources and so on". \

Brig. Mahmood Shah, who spoke on the topic 'Post 2014 scenarios in Afghanistan and its impact on FATA/KP', was the Keynote Speaker.

In Session-II, speakers included Dr. Ahsan who spoke on 'Peace Education on the Eve of NATO Drawdown'. Prof. Dr. Ijaz Khan who spoke on 'The New Chinese Pro Active Foreign Policy and the Region: Opportunities and Challenges in the Changing Regional Geo-Strategic Scene', Dr. Jan. Sartaj who spoke on 'Post Withdrawal of NATO and US forces and the role of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Afghanistan', Ms. Saima Parveen who spoke on 'Post 2014 Spillover Effects of Afghanistan's Crisis on Pakistan's Foreign Policy', Mr. Hikmat Afridi who spoke on 'NATO Drawdown, threat scenario in Afghanistan & its implications for Pakistan & Central Asia' and Mr. Naseer Ahmad who spoke on 'South Asian Security and Stability and Regional Rivalries: Post 9/11 India-Pak Proxy War in Afghanistan'.

The Session-II was chaired by the Senior Journalist, Mr. Rahim Ullah Yousafzai.

In Session-III, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Abdul Wali Khan University, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali (S.I), speakers included Mr. Christopher Donnelly who spoke on 'NATO Drawdown from Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities', Mr. Akhtar Ali Shah who spoke on 'NATO-Led ISAF Drawdown from Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities', Dr. Saima Ashraf Kiyani who spoke on 'Relations between Afghanistan & CARs (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan): Post 2014', Mr. Rahim Ullah Yousafzai who spoke on 'Pak-Afghan Relations' and Col. Saif Ur Rehman who spoke on 'Sino-Russian Competing interests in Afghanistant'.

On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Ihsan Ali reiterated that it's an honored moment for AWKUM to have successfully held such an intellectual event that was graced by the presence of local as well as international scholars. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ali congratulated the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Chairman Department of Political Science, the faculty and all the organizers and administrative staff for carrying out the event in a professional and successful manner.

In the end, shields and certificates were distributed among the Speakers and Participants.