18 Facts About Mahmoud Saikal

Mahmoud Saikal is an Afghan former senior diplomat and an international development specialist.

Mahmoud Saikal was the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations from October 2015 until February 2019.

Mahmoud Saikal graduated with a French Baccalaureate from Lycee Esteqlal, Kabul in 1979.

Mahmoud Saikal is a graduate of University of Canberra, 1986, and University of Sydney in 1988.

Mahmoud Saikal holds a Master's degree in International Development from Deakin University in Australia.

Mahmoud Saikal is fluent in Persian, Pashto, and English, and is familiar with French and Arabic.

Mahmoud Saikal began his career working in several private development firms in Australia.

Mahmoud Saikal stepped down from his position in the Ministry in late 2006 to join the UNDP as an Advisor on Afghanistan National Development Strategy.

Between 2012 and 2015, Mahmoud Saikal convened a major Track II regional process between Afghanistan and its neighbours, resulting in the Joint Declaration on Regional Peace and Stability.

In 2014, Mahmoud Saikal was appointed Special Representative and Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive of Afghanistan.

Mahmoud Saikal was instrumental in the 2006 Afghanistan-NATO Declaration, which established the Framework for Enduring Cooperation in Partnership, as well as in the negotiations of the Afghanistan Compact that was presented at the London International Conference on Afghanistan in 2006.

Mahmoud Saikal participated actively in the formative negotiations of the 2014 agreement of the Government of National Unity of Afghanistan.

From October 2015, Mahmoud Saikal served as the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations.

Mahmoud Saikal was the Chair of the UN General Assembly Third Committee 73rd Session.

Mahmoud Saikal was the Deputy Vice Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Mahmoud Saikal served as Vice President of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and chaired the New York consultations with UN member States on the Global Compact on Refugees.

Mahmoud Saikal was instrumental in the formulation of the process of Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences on Afghanistan has strengthened Afghanistan's membership in Economic Cooperation Organization.

Mahmoud Saikal's term ended on February 19,2019 and he was succeeded by Afghanistan's first female UN Ambassador, Adela Raz.