Mr. Kasuri’s talk will be followed by a question and answer session.

Educated at the Universities of Punjab, Cambridge, and Oxford, Mr Kasuri was called to the Bar from Gray’s Inn, London. He then took part in various political movements for democracy in Pakistan including the PNA, MRD and PDA, suffering emprisonment for his political activities. He strongly believes in Jinnah’s vision of a pluralistic, progressive, and inclusive Pakistan and tendered his resignation from the National Assembly when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted to push through the 15th Amendment which Kasuri regarded as reactionary and contrary to Jinnah’s vision.

Kasuri served as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister from 2002-07. He assumed office in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 when Pakistan faced challenges with the US, India, and Afghanistan. His recent book contains a detailed analysis of the Kashmir issue and the complex Pakistan-US-Afghanistan-India quadrangular relationship as well as accounts of the author’s dealings with his Indian counterparts, major Pakistani political figures and relations with such states as China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Bangladesh.

Khurshid Kasuri is currently Chairman of the Regional Peace Institute, an Islamabad based think tank. He is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Senior Advisor on Political and International Affairs, Chairman of its Task Force on Kashmir, and a member of the party’s Core Committee.

This event is jointly organised by the Oxford University Pakistan Society and the Asian Studies Centre, St Antony’s College.