Venue: IAIS Malaysia

Date: 13 December 2011 (Tuesday)

Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm

Speakers:

1. Dr Abdul-Qayum Mohmand, former assistant professor of political science at the American University of Afghanistan
2. Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeif, head of the Afghan Foundation.

Dr. Abdul-Qayum Mohmand is currently conducting research in Kabul, Afghanistan on the subject of regional and international security, conflict resolution and the “New Great Game.” In this research, he will investigate whether the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and the toppling of the Taliban regime was about eliminating Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organization or controlling the immense oil and gas resources in Central Asia.

Dr. Mohmand also studies the rise of political violence and political Islam in the context of globalization.  The objective of this research is to discover the reasons causing these phenomena and their effect on the Muslim world, particularly Afghanistan, and Middle Eastern societies, culture, and politics.

Dr. Mohmand served as assistant professor of political science at the American University of Afghanistan from August 2008 until June 2011. He taught courses in International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Violence and Terrorism, International Security, and Islamic Political Thought.

He also has taught at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.  Dr. Mohmand’s areas of interest and research include International Relations and Comparative Politics; American Foreign Policy; Government, Politics, and Religion of the Middle East; Islamic Political Thought; and Political Violence and Conflict Resolution.

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeif was born in 1967 in Panjwayee, Kandahar.  He went to primary school in Kandahar.  In 1978, he migrated to Pakistan and finished his secondary studies.  He joined the Jihad ranks at a young age.  At the same time while involved in Jihad, he also studied religion from scholars in the region.  After the collapse of the Dr. Najibullah regime, he went to Peshawar to finish his religious studies.  Along with religion, he studied economics and political science.  He speaks Pashto, Arabic, and English.

At the beginning of the Taliban movement, he joined their ranks.  When the Taliban captured Herat, he was appointed Head of the Central Bank there.  Thereafter he served as Director of Administration in the Ministry of Defense, Deputy Minister of Mines and Industries, and General Director of Transportation.  As his last official appointment in the Taliban government, he served as Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan.  After the American invasion of Afghanistan against international law and norms, in 2002, he was arrested by the government of Pakistan and handed over to the Americans in Afghanistan.  He spent three years and ten months in American secret jails and Guantanamo Bay.

Mr. Zaeif is currently the head of the Afghan Foundation.  Afghan Foundation is involved in social and cultural work, and education. He has written two books: My Life with the Taliban and A Picture from Guantanamo.

Participation is FREE.

For more information please contact IAIS Malaysia;