About the Author

Dr Shaida Mohammad Abdali is the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Republic of India. He is also the non-resident Ambassador of Afghanistan to Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. He formerly served as the Deputy National Security Advisor and Special Assistant to the former President of Afghanistan, H.E. Hamid Karzai.

Under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai, Ambassador Abdali took part in the early resistance movement against the Taliban and its foreign supporters. In 2001, President Karzai appointed him as his Personal Secretary.

Dr. Abdali was awarded the High State Medal of Wazir Mohammed Akbar Khan in 2014 by President Karzai for his tireless and dedicated services as Deputy National Security Adviser (2009-2012), Special Assistant to the President (2001-2008), as well as for his hard efforts to further promote and expand Indo-Afghan relations as Ambassador of Afghanistan to India (2012-Present). Internationally, he has been honoured with the CCI Technology Education Excellence Award in 2014 for initiating and promoting education ties between India and Afghanistan; the Honorary Texan Award in the United States of America; the World Green Diplomacy Award in New Delhi in 2013; a Gold Medal for fostering diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and India by Amity University; and a Life Time Achievement Award by the Lions International Club.

In 2015, Dr. Abdali received Outstanding Achievement Award as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India from National Defence University, United States of America; his picture has been mounted in the Hall of Fame. India International Friendship Society also honoured him with an Outstanding Achiever Award in 2015 for his excellent work in deepening the friendship ties between India and Afghanistan. Dr. Abdali was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is married, and has four children.