The future of Afghanistan was discussed as the Massoud Foundation hosted a conference at Gonville & Caius College last week.

The Conference on Ahmad Shah Massoud and the Future of Afghanistan, attracted 60 delegates, plus further participants online. It was organised by Mr Zalmai Nishat, assisted by Dr John Casey.

Ahmad Wali Masoud, the founder and chairman of the Massoud Foundation, welcomed dignitaries from the fields of academia and journalism, as well as diplomats, policy makers and politicians, to the event.

The Massoud Foundation is a non-profit organisation which promotes relationships and cultural awareness between communities from Afghanistan in the UK and British people, centred on education and health. The Foundation is dedicated to the memory of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a politician of Afghanistan and military leader who was killed in 2001.

The conference opened with an audio introduction from Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front and son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, and included a contribution from Rory Stewart, the former Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom.

The conference is envisaged as a series by the Massoud Foundation, to be held biennially.