Said Tayeb Jawad
Encyclopedia
Said Tayeb Jawad was appointed Afghan Ambassador to the U.S. on December 4, 2003, by President
Hamid Karzai
and served as Ambassador until September 22, 2010. He also served as Afghanistan’s non-resident Ambassador to Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. He previously was Chief of Staff
to the Afghan President in 2002 and 2003. In October 2010, he joined Harvard University
's Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
in the John F. Kennedy School of Government
as the inaugural Fisher Family Fellow. In February 2011, he became Diplomat-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins University
's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
. He also currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Capitalize LLC, a Washington-based strategic consulting company and the Chairman of the Foundation for Afghanistan.. He is also a Global Political Strategist at APCO Worldwide
..
. He was educated at Lycée Esteqlal
and at the School of Law and Political Sciences in Kabul University
.
In 1980, shortly after the Soviet invasion, he left Afghanistan and went into exile in Germany, where he studied law at Westfaelische Wilhelms University
in Münster.
In 1986 he settled in the United States, where he earned his MBA from the Golden Gate University
in San Francisco and worked for a number of prominent law firms, among other as legal consultant at a San Francisco Embarcadero law firm.
He is fluent in Pashto
, Dari Persian, English, German and French languages. He is married to Shamim Jawad, Founder and President of the Ayenda Foundation, a charitable organization that works on projects for women and children in Afghanistan. They have a son, Iman, who is a student at Tufts University
, class of 2012, where he was enrolled in the EPIIC '09–'10 program. He is also a member of the Afghan Student Initiative at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Jawad had been a dual national, but had to give up his U.S. citizenship to accept his posting as Afghan Ambassador to the U.S.
's office and became his press secretary
. By June, in addition to trying to coordinate the loya jirga
, or grand council, for thousands of delegates and journalists, Jawad had become Karzai's Chief of Staff.
Until late 2003 he served as the President’s Press Secretary, Chief of Staff as well as the Director of the Office of International Relations at the Presidential Palace. Jawad has worked closely with President Karzai in formulating strategies, implementing policies, building national institutions and prioritizing reforms in Afghanistan. He also worked with the U.S. and Afghanistan's military
experts to help reform the Ministry of Defense, disarm local warlords and rebuild the Afghan National Army
. Jawad was instrumental in drafting Afghanistan’s foreign investment laws; he served as President Karzai’s principal liaison with the constitutional commission throughout the drafting of the Constitution of Afghanistan
. As Chief of Staff he accompanied the President and managed all foreign trips and state visits. He observed cabinet meetings and participated in the National Security Council meetings.
In October 2003 he was appointed Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States.
As part of his role as Afghanistan's envoy to the U.S., Jawad has worked closely with two presidential administrations on U.S. strategy towards Afghanistan; developed close links to members of the U.S. Congress; hosted numerous visits of high-level ministers and President Karzai; appeared in newspaper, magazine, radio and television interviews; spoken before audiences at universities, think tanks, charitable organizations and community groups; and received awards and commendations for his work for Afghanistan.
Jawad has appeared numerous times in major American and international papers and television shows. He also regularly lectures and speaks at prominent universities and think tanks. According to the Washington Times Jawad has maintained a high profile for Afghanistan, even as most public attention since 2003 has been focused on the Iraq War.
In late 2009 there were rumours that Jawad would be appointed foreign minister of Afghanistan
but Karzai appointed Zalmai Rasul instead.
Jawad has participated in hundreds of conferences and forums related to Afghanistan and the region. Jawad is an avid polo
player and a member of the Capitol Polo Club in Maryland. He played in the Green Cup and is a member of the United States Polo Association
.
Jawad has participated in many significant conferences and forums related to Afghanistan and the region in the past decade.
and of involvement of women in Afghan politics. Jawad has said that the biggest concern that Afghans have about the international presence is that it might be short-lived.
Jawad has been loyal to President Karzai
. He publicly defended Karzai against allegations of corruption and said that he is the most hard-working president Afghanistan has ever had. Nevertheless, in October 2009 he was the first Karzai aide to suggest that a run-off between Karzai and his challenger Abdullah Abdullah
was very likely after allegations of election fraud. He said that a power sharing agreement between Karzai and Abdullah would be a good political solution but said he doubted that it would bring more skillful people to the government and that a coalition government meant sacrificing merits.
Jawad and his wife have worked several times with former first lady Laura Bush
in promoting awareness of rights for Afghan woman and children. However Jawad criticized the Bush administration sometimes on using so much aerial bombing, resulting in civilian casualties, Jawad has expressed his gratitude to the US and foreign military powers in Afghanistan on a large number of occasions. Towards President Obama
, who was less supportive of Afghan President Karzai, Jawad was more critical: "When the new administration came in there were a lot of changes and sometimes there was an oversimplification of the issues. Now the Obama administration is realizing you cannot just get rid of a democratically elected president of a country because you don't really like him." he said to United Press International
. Further Jawad has voiced opposition to President Obama's plan to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan starting summer 2011. Jawad stressed the importance of continued international presence to avoid a situation as in the early 90s.
Jawad has stressed that too much of the international aid and military effort had bypassed the Afghan government which makes it impossible to build competent government and security. Jawad also has said that eradication of poppies is not the best solution to the Afghan narcotics problem.
In May 2005 Jawad signed a memorandum of understanding for the city of light
, a large reconstruction plan for the center of Kabul
.
Jawad has criticized Pakistan for not doing enough to stop the Taliban insurgency. Although he recognizes that new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari
seems much more committed to battling terrorism than his predecessor, General Pervez Musharraf. But, according to Jawad, Pakistan's army still appears to be more preoccupied with the country's traditional nemesis, India.
, Washington, D.C., 2008; Honorary Doctorate Degree in Organization Leadership, Argosy University
, Washington, D.C. 2007; and the Award of Merit for Rebuilding a Nation, American Society for Engineering Education
, Washington, D.C, 2007.
President of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has only been a republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onwards. Before 1973, it was a monarchy that was governed by a variety of kings, emirs or shahs...
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
and served as Ambassador until September 22, 2010. He also served as Afghanistan’s non-resident Ambassador to Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. He previously was Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to the Afghan President in 2002 and 2003. In October 2010, he joined Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is a permanent research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The center's current director is political scientist Graham T. Allison....
in the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
as the inaugural Fisher Family Fellow. In February 2011, he became Diplomat-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
. He also currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Capitalize LLC, a Washington-based strategic consulting company and the Chairman of the Foundation for Afghanistan.. He is also a Global Political Strategist at APCO Worldwide
APCO Worldwide
APCO Worldwide is an independent communications consultancy. With more than 600 employees in 29 worldwide locations, it is the second largest independently-owned PR firm in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO was founded in 1984 by Margery Kraus, who is now the firm’s global...
..
Biography
Said Tayeb Jawad was born in KandaharKandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
. He was educated at Lycée Esteqlal
Lycée Esteqlal
The Lycée Esteqlal is a Franco-Afghan school in Kabul, Afghanistan. It is the second oldest school in Kabul, and was recognized as one of the prestigious schools in the country....
and at the School of Law and Political Sciences in Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
.
In 1980, shortly after the Soviet invasion, he left Afghanistan and went into exile in Germany, where he studied law at Westfaelische Wilhelms University
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
in Münster.
In 1986 he settled in the United States, where he earned his MBA from the Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco and worked for a number of prominent law firms, among other as legal consultant at a San Francisco Embarcadero law firm.
He is fluent in Pashto
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
, Dari Persian, English, German and French languages. He is married to Shamim Jawad, Founder and President of the Ayenda Foundation, a charitable organization that works on projects for women and children in Afghanistan. They have a son, Iman, who is a student at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, class of 2012, where he was enrolled in the EPIIC '09–'10 program. He is also a member of the Afghan Student Initiative at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy is research center concerned with human rights, and is located at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University....
at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Jawad had been a dual national, but had to give up his U.S. citizenship to accept his posting as Afghan Ambassador to the U.S.
Return to Afghanistan
Jawad went back to Afghanistan in March 2002. He worked for Afghan President Hamid KarzaiHamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
's office and became his press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
. By June, in addition to trying to coordinate the loya jirga
Loya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
, or grand council, for thousands of delegates and journalists, Jawad had become Karzai's Chief of Staff.
Until late 2003 he served as the President’s Press Secretary, Chief of Staff as well as the Director of the Office of International Relations at the Presidential Palace. Jawad has worked closely with President Karzai in formulating strategies, implementing policies, building national institutions and prioritizing reforms in Afghanistan. He also worked with the U.S. and Afghanistan's military
Military of Afghanistan
The military of Afghanistan is composed of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Army Air Force . Being a landlocked country, Afghanistan has no navy, and the private security forces who are sometimes seen wearing military uniforms are not part of Afghanistan's military...
experts to help reform the Ministry of Defense, disarm local warlords and rebuild the Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
. Jawad was instrumental in drafting Afghanistan’s foreign investment laws; he served as President Karzai’s principal liaison with the constitutional commission throughout the drafting of the Constitution of Afghanistan
Constitution of Afghanistan
The Constitution of Afghanistan is the supreme law of the state Afghanistan, which serves as the legal framework between the Afghan government and the Afghan citizens...
. As Chief of Staff he accompanied the President and managed all foreign trips and state visits. He observed cabinet meetings and participated in the National Security Council meetings.
In October 2003 he was appointed Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States.
Ambassador to the U.S.
On December 4, 2003, Jawad assumed his official duties as Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States and non-resident ambassador to Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, making him Afghanistan's 19th top representative to the U.S. since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1934.As part of his role as Afghanistan's envoy to the U.S., Jawad has worked closely with two presidential administrations on U.S. strategy towards Afghanistan; developed close links to members of the U.S. Congress; hosted numerous visits of high-level ministers and President Karzai; appeared in newspaper, magazine, radio and television interviews; spoken before audiences at universities, think tanks, charitable organizations and community groups; and received awards and commendations for his work for Afghanistan.
Jawad has appeared numerous times in major American and international papers and television shows. He also regularly lectures and speaks at prominent universities and think tanks. According to the Washington Times Jawad has maintained a high profile for Afghanistan, even as most public attention since 2003 has been focused on the Iraq War.
In late 2009 there were rumours that Jawad would be appointed foreign minister of Afghanistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan)
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs - MFA - is the Government of Afghanistan Cabinet officer responsible for managing the Foreign relations of Afghanistan.-Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan:-External links:*...
but Karzai appointed Zalmai Rasul instead.
Jawad has participated in hundreds of conferences and forums related to Afghanistan and the region. Jawad is an avid polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player and a member of the Capitol Polo Club in Maryland. He played in the Green Cup and is a member of the United States Polo Association
United States Polo Association
The United States Polo Association is the national governing body for the sport of polo in the United States since 1890. The USPA provides resources to approximately 3600 individual members and 250 polo clubs across the U.S. and Canada, including coordinating and supervising professional polo...
.
Jawad has participated in many significant conferences and forums related to Afghanistan and the region in the past decade.
Political views
Having lived in Europe and the USA for more than 25 years, Jawad is familiar with western views on society and politics. He has been supportive of the American War on TerrorWar on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and of involvement of women in Afghan politics. Jawad has said that the biggest concern that Afghans have about the international presence is that it might be short-lived.
Jawad has been loyal to President Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
. He publicly defended Karzai against allegations of corruption and said that he is the most hard-working president Afghanistan has ever had. Nevertheless, in October 2009 he was the first Karzai aide to suggest that a run-off between Karzai and his challenger Abdullah Abdullah
Abdullah Abdullah
Abdullah Abdullah is an Afghan politician and a doctor of medicine. He was an adviser and friend to Ahmad Shah Massoud, legendary anti-Taliban leader and commander known as the "Lion of Panjshir". After the fall of the Taliban regime, Dr. Abdullah served as Afghanistan's Foreign Minister from 2001...
was very likely after allegations of election fraud. He said that a power sharing agreement between Karzai and Abdullah would be a good political solution but said he doubted that it would bring more skillful people to the government and that a coalition government meant sacrificing merits.
Jawad and his wife have worked several times with former first lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
in promoting awareness of rights for Afghan woman and children. However Jawad criticized the Bush administration sometimes on using so much aerial bombing, resulting in civilian casualties, Jawad has expressed his gratitude to the US and foreign military powers in Afghanistan on a large number of occasions. Towards President Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, who was less supportive of Afghan President Karzai, Jawad was more critical: "When the new administration came in there were a lot of changes and sometimes there was an oversimplification of the issues. Now the Obama administration is realizing you cannot just get rid of a democratically elected president of a country because you don't really like him." he said to United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. Further Jawad has voiced opposition to President Obama's plan to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan starting summer 2011. Jawad stressed the importance of continued international presence to avoid a situation as in the early 90s.
Jawad has stressed that too much of the international aid and military effort had bypassed the Afghan government which makes it impossible to build competent government and security. Jawad also has said that eradication of poppies is not the best solution to the Afghan narcotics problem.
In May 2005 Jawad signed a memorandum of understanding for the city of light
City of Light Development
The Kabul - City of Light Development is an urban reconstruction plan, first proposed by urban planner and architect Hisham N. Ashkouri to revitalize the capital city of Afghanistan. The plan targets an area just south of the Kabul River for redevelopment...
, a large reconstruction plan for the center of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
.
Jawad has criticized Pakistan for not doing enough to stop the Taliban insurgency. Although he recognizes that new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
seems much more committed to battling terrorism than his predecessor, General Pervez Musharraf. But, according to Jawad, Pakistan's army still appears to be more preoccupied with the country's traditional nemesis, India.
Awards and honorary degrees
Awards and honorary degrees granted to Jawad include the Constitutional Loya Jirga Service, Medal, Government of Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003; Global Citizen Award, Roots of PeaceRoots of Peace
Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization dedicated to the removal of landmines and the subsequent replanting and rebuilding of war-torn regions. Founded in 1997 by Heidi Kuhn, the goal of Roots of Peace is to turn minefields into farmland and support victims of landmine accidents...
, Washington, D.C., 2008; Honorary Doctorate Degree in Organization Leadership, Argosy University
Argosy University
Argosy University is a for-profit university owned by Education Management Corporation, with 19 locations in 13 U.S. states and online. The university offers numerous programs at various levels, including certification; associates, bachelors, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees, postdoctoral...
, Washington, D.C. 2007; and the Award of Merit for Rebuilding a Nation, American Society for Engineering Education
American Society for Engineering Education
The American Society for Engineering Education is a non-profit member association, founded in 1893, dedicated to promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education....
, Washington, D.C, 2007.
See also
- Diplomatic missions of AfghanistanDiplomatic missions of AfghanistanThis is a list of diplomatic missions of Afghanistan, excluding honorary consulates.At the height of the Taliban regime in the 1990s the only Afghan missions were in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates...
- United States-Afghanistan relations
- Politics of AfghanistanPolitics of AfghanistanThe politics of Afghanistan consists of the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly, with a president serving as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military. The nation is currently led by the Karzai administration under President Hamid Karzai who is backed by two vice...