Virtual Event | Policy Options on Afghanistan Four Years After the U.S. Withdrawal

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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a live, virtual event on Thursday, August 14, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET, “Policy Options on Afghanistan Four Years After the U.S. Withdrawal.” Marking the four-year anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the event examined how U.S. policy toward the country is evolving under President Trump’s second term.

Panelists included Richard Bennett, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan; David Sedney, former deputy assistant secretary of defense and former president of the American University of Afghanistan; and Metra Mehran, gender and policy advisor at the Atlantic Council. The conversation will be moderated by Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS.

The discussion examined the evolving challenges in Afghanistan and explore different policy approaches. Since August 15, 2021, the country has experienced a sharp decline in human rights—especially for women and girls—alongside growing terrorism threats and worsening humanitarian conditions. These developments have been compounded by the Trump administration’s significant reduction in foreign aid, including $1.7 billion in critical humanitarian assistance. Dissonance among international actors—highlighted by U.S. opposition to the July 7, 2025, UN General Assembly resolution expressing support for the Afghan people—further complicates the international response. Speakers will explore policy options to address this complex landscape, weighing counterterrorism objectives against urgent humanitarian needs and the broader implications of U.S. disengagement for regional stability and American strategic interests.

Featuring:

Richard Bennett
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan
United Nations

David Sedney
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Former President of the American University of Afghanistan

Metra Mehran
Gender and Policy Advisor
Atlantic Council

Moderated by:

Lisa Curtis
Senior Fellow and Program Director, Indo-Pacific Security Program
Center for a New American Security

For registration questions, contact Jasmine Butler at [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Charles Horn at [email protected].