Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Afghan girls went back to school for the first time in five years Saturday, elated and emotional at the end of the draconian ban on female education imposed by the now ousted Taliban regime.
Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai and the UN's special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi led a ceremony to celebrate the start of the new school year at the capital's Amani High School.

The chairman of the interim administration of Afghanistan, Esteemed Hamed Karzai, received today at the Gul Khana Palace Prince Karim Aga Khan [IV] and signed an agreement on expanding cooperation...
According to Bakhtar information agency, during the talks with Prince Karim Aga Khan in the Gul Khana Palace, the chairman of the interim administration of Afghanistan, Hamed Karzai, spoke on the programmes of the interim administration and drew the attention of Prince Aga Khan to possible areas of cooperation in the reconstruction programmes for Afghanistan.

The following is a free translation of an interview published in the French daily newspaper 'La Croix' onTuesday, April 8, 2003 entitled 'Il sera difficile d'organiser la démocratie en Irak'.

The translator makes no guarantees on the accuracy of this translation. Please refer to the original French
text for a precise account of the interview.

World - The war in Iraq
'It will be difficult to organize democracy in Iraq'
In an exclusive interview to 'La Croix', the Aga Khan underlines how much war
destabilizes the Middle East. He believes that democracy should be given time to

Kabul, Afghanistan, 8 November 2005: The Kabul Serena Hotel was officially inaugurated today by His Excellency President Karzai and His Highness the Aga Khan. The opening of the restored and expanded Kabul Serena Hotel, the former Kabul Hotel, is a milestone in Afghanistan's post-conflict redevelopment.

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia and His Highness the Aga Khan, speaking on the 'Enabling Environment Conference, called today (Monday) for the private sector to play a greater role in Afghanistan

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia and His Highness the Aga Khan, speaking on the “Enabling Environment Conference, called today (Monday) for the private sector to play a greater role in Afghanistan’s development.

Kabul, Afghanistan - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Mr. Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the Interim Authority of the Government of Afghanistan today signed an Agreement of Cooperation for Development that establishes an operating framework for the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Afghanistan.

Serena Hotel in Kabul.

Serena Hotel in Kabul.

April 8, 2006 Kabul, Afghanistan: His Highness The Aga Khan and Mme Bernadette Chirac, the wife of the President of France, being met by President Karzai upon their arrival at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

April 8, 2006 Kabul, Afghanistan: His Highness The Aga Khan and Mme Bernadette Chirac, the wife of the President of France, being met by President Karzai upon their arrival at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

April 8, 2006 Kabul, Afghanistan:Sat Apr 8, 8:16 AM ET Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai (C), the Aga Khan (R) and French first lady Bernadette Chirac shake hands before their meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul April 8, 2006. The three participated in the inauguration of a medical clinic set up in Kabul by the French government with the help of the Aga Khan Foundation.