As part of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and its’ Afghan partner Organization for Economic Studies and Peace’ (OESP) efforts to promote constructive people to people contact between Pakistan and Afghanistan under the ambit of its Track 1.5/II Diplomacy initiative ‘Beyond Boundaries’, a five-member women-led delegation paid a two day visit to Kabul, from December 27-29, 2019, to meet with Afghan women leaders to discuss the role of women in the bilateral relations and to devise ways to empower their role in achieving peace in the region.
The women-led delegation headed by Ambassador Tasnim Aslam, former Special Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), included Ms. Sameena Durrani, Senior Development Professional; Ms. Mome Saleem; Development Professional and Consultant PM Youth Programme Ms. Hina Mansab Khan, Entrepreneur/Business Leader; and Ms. Nadia Sabohi, Senior Reporter and Anchor GEO News, Peshawar. The delegation was accompanied by GEO News cameraman Mr. Muhammad Saddiq and CRSS Project Coordinator Ms. Sitwat Waqar Bokhari.
The visit included meetings with women leaders in Afghanistan arranged by Afghan counterpart OESP. On day one- Sunday 28 December- The delegation met with Deputy Minister for Administration and Finance at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Afghanistan, Ms. Nabila Musleh, Kabul Deputy Governor on Social Affairs, Ms. Hanifa Girowal, and former Deputy Minister of Commerce & Industries of Afghanistan, Ms. Kamila Sidiqi, Afghanistan, followed by a meeting and dinner hosted by Pakistan Ambassador Zahid Nasrullah at his residence on day one. On day two- Monday 29 December- The delegation met with the President of Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms. Manizha Wafeq, and Chairperson, SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC),Ms. Afsana Rahimi and also paid a visit to a Pak-Embassy- Higher Education Commission (HEC) test center in Kabul where 16000 Afghan candidates had shown up to appear in Pakistan-funded Scholarships’ qualification exam. On day one, the delegation also visited Bagh-e-Babar, Kabul, before the meetings.
