Peace and Sport Council of Afghanistan Awards the 2025 Peace Prize to Mr. Nassir Ahmad Taraki
The Peace and Sport Council of Afghanistan has officially awarded its 2025 Peace Prize to Mr. Nassir Ahmad Taraki, recognizing his longstanding contributions to peacebuilding, democratic governance, human rights, and political analysis related to Afghanistan and the wider region.
Mr. Taraki is a well-known Afghanistan researcher, political analyst, and former lecturer in political science with extensive academic and professional experience in governance, security, local development, and international relations. The Council stated that the award honors his intellectual leadership, civic activism, and consistent efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and democratic values through research, education, and public engagement.
He holds a Master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Pune and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Fergusson College. In addition, Mr. Taraki has undertaken specialized professional training and earned diplomas in national security, international relations, local governance, development management, and United Nations–related programs from reputable institutions in India and China.
Before the collapse of the Afghanistan Republic, Mr. Taraki served as Director for Central Asia, Russia, and China Affairs at the Office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan. Following this role, he worked as a Global Justice and Governance Analyst with an international consulting firm based in the United States.
Mr. Taraki has also contributed significantly to higher education and local governance development. He previously taught at universities in Kabul and served for five years as Senior Program Coordinator for Afghanistan’s Local Councils under a joint project of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Additionally, he worked as a local governance trainer in programs organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
As an independent civic and political activist, Mr. Taraki remains actively engaged in initiatives related to peacebuilding, democracy, and human rights. He has published numerous analytical articles in national and international media outlets, including BBC Persian, Eurasia Journal, and Hasht-e Subh Daily, and has translated more than one hundred articles from Pashto and Persian into English.
Mr. Taraki is fluent in Persian, Pashto, and English, with working proficiency in Urdu, Spanish, and Hindi. He is currently working on a book titled “The Dream of the Asian Century.”
In announcing the award, the Peace and Sport Council of Afghanistan emphasized that the 2025 Peace Prize reflects Mr. Taraki’s enduring commitment to non-violence, intellectual integrity, and the pursuit of a peaceful and democratic future for Afghanistan and the region.
