Lakhdar Brahimi on hopes and failures in Afghanistan

Veteran Algerian diplomat and distinguished conflict mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, provides a front-row perspective on key moments in Afghanistan’s troubled history – beginning with his appointment as UN Special Envoy in 1997, after Kabul last fell to the Taliban. He reflects on personal regrets and missed opportunities over years of peace negotiations – from Bonn to Doha – and recalls his interactions with Taliban leadership, including the meeting where a young interpreter played an unexpected part in preventing a war. He also discusses his role in Iraq and why, despite his reservations, he couldn’t say no to the task of trying to find a peaceful solution to the war in Syria.

Om Podcasten

What happens behind closed doors when peace agreements are negotiated? The Mediator’s Studio gives you a glimpse into the normally hidden world of peace diplomacy. Host Adam Cooper brings you first-hand stories from mediators, armed groups and governments on what it takes to end wars. The Mediator’s Studio is a podcast from the Oslo Forum, the world’s leading mediation retreat. It’s brought to you by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.