Kabul, Afghanistan, 29 September 2014 - His Highness the Aga Khan on Monday (29 September) paid a brief visit to Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, to join several dignitaries from around the world at the official inauguration of the country’s new president Dr Muhammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and the swearing in of the Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah. The event signified the embarking on a new era with a National Unity Government.

During the one day visit, the Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) met with President Ahmadzai and Dr Abdullah and reaffirmed his commitment to support the National Unity Government in the country’s progress to peace, stability, social and economic development. The Aga Khan also met with Afghanistan’s outgoing president, Hamid Karzai to acknowledge his leadership and support for the work of the AKDN.

The AKDN has been engaged in Afghanistan since 1996 with food aid and other humanitarian assistance during the civil war. In 2002, AKDN started its engagement in the reconstruction and long-term and sustainable development of Afghanistan.

AKDN works in close collaboration with the government and institutions of civil society, as well as with international partners in improving the quality of life of the peoples of Afghanistan through investments in social, cultural and economic development.

Its interventions range from health, education, rural development and natural resource management, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, tourism, microfinance and financial services. AKDN is also engaged in supporting regional economic development through its multi-input area development approach including capacity building and institutional strengthening.

In recognition of the important role of culture in development, AKDN also works in the restoration and preservation of historic assets in the country, including in Kabul, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan. Projects include the restoration of Babur’s Gardens and the old City in Kabul and conservation of major landmark buildings in Herat including the Citadel.

In the area of economic development AKDN has become the largest private employer in the country, creating a number of successful project companies, including Roshan, the country’s leading communications provider, the Kabul Serena Hotel and Habib Bank.

The AKDN works in 30 countries and is grounded in Islam’s ethics of inclusiveness, compassion, sharing, self-reliance, respect for health and life, the cultivation of a sound and enlightened mind, and mankind’s collective responsibility for a sustainable physical, social and cultural environment.

proving the quality of life of the peoples of Afghanistan through investments in social, cultural and economic development. Its interventions range from health, education, rural development and natural resource management, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, tourism, microfinance and financial services. AKDN is also engaged in supporting regional economic development through its multi-input area development approach including capacity building and institutional strengthening. In recognition of the important role of culture in development, AKDN also works in the restoration and preservation of historic assets in the country, including in Kabul, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan. Projects include the restoration of Babur’s Gardens and the old City in Kabul and conservation of major landmark buildings in Herat including the Citadel. In the area of economic development AKDN has become the largest private employer in the country, creating a number of successful project companies, including Roshan, the country’s leading communications provider, the Kabul Serena Hotel and Habib Bank. The AKDN works in 30 countries and is grounded in Islam’s ethics of inclusiveness, compassion, sharing, self-reliance, respect for health and life, the cultivation of a sound and enlightened mind, and mankind’s collective responsibility for a sustainable physical, social and cultural environment.