The Night of Herat was co-hosted by the SOAS South Asia Institute, Sussex Asia Centre and Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies on March 17, 2019 in London, UK. The program was opened with a Sufi Prayer followed by remarks from Professor Edward Simpson, Director of SOAS South Asia Institute and Professor Magnus Marsden, Director of the Sussex Asia Center at the University of Sussex.

The first Sussex Afghanistan Forum took place on 13th March 2018 at the University of Sussex, hosted by the Sussex Asia Centre and the Afghanistan Institute of Strategic Studies.

Initiated the University of Sussex Asia Centre (USAC) and the Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS), in 2018, Sussex Afghanistan Forum (SAF) was an inaugural an event to discuss the pressing issues confronting Afghanistan’s development, both domestically and internationally, and areas of mutual interest between Afghanistan and the UK. The event also represented the ambition of USAC and AISS to strengthen their research excellence and outreach.

On Monday 17 September 2018 the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) held a round table jointly organised with the Sussex Asia Centre entitled: “Afghanistan, Asia and the new Silk Road: Perspectives from the Ground”. Academics, economic experts, government officials, civil society members and media representatives attended the event. The speakers included H.E Dr. Mustafa Mastoor, Minister of Economy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Professor Magnus Marsden Chief Academic Advisor at the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) and Director of the Sussex Asia Centre, University of Sussex, and Mr. Azrakhsh Hafizi, President of ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industries and renowned economic affairs analyst.