On Tuesday August 16, 2016, the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) held an interaction in honour of Professor Thomas Barfied, the prominent US scholar (Boston University) and the president of the American Institute for Afghanistan Studies. Professor delivered a speech on the story of state formation in Afghanistan and the challenge of centre-regions/provinces balance of power. The event was attended by a select number of guests, including former Afghan foreign minister, Dr Spanta, Turkish Ambassador, US diplomats and representatives of the Afghan government, parliament, civil society and the media.