The debate, which takes place at the Qatar Foundation Headquarters today at 7.30pm, will argue the motion ‘This House believes this Afghan government is not worth fighting for’.
“The administration of Hamid Karzai has come under intense criticism at home and abroad Nonetheless, Western troops continue to fight and die in the country – as the US promises increasing numbers will be committed to the battle against the Taliban,” a Doha Debates spokesperson said.
Doha Debates chairman Tim Sebastian while saying international forces in Afghanistan may have decided to stay for now but they face a critical, long-term dilemma, added: “Do they continue to fight for a government, widely regarded as corrupt and brutal – or do they pull out, save the lives of their troops and wait until the Afghans choose a government more acceptable to Nato?”
Speaking for the motion will be Peter Galbraith, a former UN envoy to Afghanistan, who now maintains he was fired for accusing his boss of concealing election fraud in the country.
Alongside him will be Mirwais Yasini, one of the deputy speakers of the Lower House of the Afghan parliament.
Against the motion will be Shukria Barakzai, one of only a handful of female members of the Afghan parliament and a prominent women’s rights campaigner. She will be joined by Lawrence Korb, an adviser on defence issues and former Assistant Secretary of Defence in the US’ Reagan administration, the official said.
