The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) hosted the Herat Security Dialogue III (HSD) 27-28 September 2014 in Herat, Afghanistan. This was the third annual international conference AISS hosted.It was attended by government officials, international organization delegates, legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists, business delegates, media and civil society representatives from Afghanistan, the region and wider international community.

Its main objective was to address a clear domestic and regional need for a permanent forum where different stakeholders could engage in dialogue aimed at building confidence and identifying practical& broader security cooperation at different levels. Furthermore, the HSD was committed to promoting and encouraging an inclusive and networked understanding of security by bringing together different but related themes and approaches to security. The HSD aimed to challenge conventional approaches to security and encourage creative and “out of the box thinking” and solutions. The HSD also encouraged normative and cross-cultural dialogue concerning different approaches and perspectives on security. Particularly, the HSD intended to address Afghanistan’s security and stability in the wider regional and global contexts. It was held in October in the historic city of Herat, which exemplifies connectivity, cooperation, creativity throughout its long history, strategic location and its post 2001 renaissance.