A delegation of PILDAT staff led by Executive Director Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob undertook a two day visit from November 05 to 06, 2007 to Kabul, Afghanistan. The visit was organized to initiate the process of and share the idea of holding Joint Workshops of South Asian Parliamentarians especially those of Pakistan and Afghanistan. PILDAT is planning to hold a series of joint workshops of Pakistani and Afghan Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff on parliamentary practices at Islamabad with the purpose of enhancing mutual understanding on Parliamentary practices in vogue in the two countries and to enhance the capacity of the parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. This contact is also expected to promote good relations between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan by enhancing people to people contact.

During their stay in Kabul PILDAT team held a series of important meetings with senior Afghan Parliament officials, members of Parliament and key players involved in parliamentary strengthening initiatives in Afghanistan. Some of the Key Meetings were with Honourable Sayed Hamid Gailani, the First Deputy Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament); Mr. Aasadullah Fallah, the Secretary General of the Meshrano Jirga and his key staff; Mr. Ghulam Hasan Gran, the Secretary General of the Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of Parliament) and his key staff; Honourable Mr. Burhanuddin Rabbani, former Afghan President and Chairman of Wolesi Jirga Legislative Committee, Members and Staff of the Committee; Mr. Mir Ahmad Joyenda, Member Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Kabir Ranjbar, Member Wolesi Jirga; Dr. Syed Ghulam Farooq Mirranay, Member Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Abbass Noyan; Member Wolesi Jirga and Mr. Mohammad Alam Eizedyar; Member Mashrano Jirga.

In addition, the delegation also met with a number of organizations which are engaged in Parliamentary Development work in Afghanistan.

Honourable Sayed Hamid Gailani, the First Deputy Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga hosted Dinner in the Delegation�s honour at his residence which was also attended by senior officials of the Parliament.

A meeting was scheduled with Honourable Mr. Mohammad Yunus Qanoni, President of the Wolesi Jirga for November 7, but due to the tragic terrorist attack in the Northern province of Baghlan in which six Members of the Afghan Parliament lost their lives, the meeting had to be called off.

The elected members of the Afghan Parliament and Parliamentary Officials overwhelmingly supported the idea of holding Joint Workshops of Pakistani and Afghan Parliamentarians and offered very useful suggestions for the organization of these events.