On April 2nd, 2025, Dr. Ian Bickford, President of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), was invited to deliver testimony before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, chaired by Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart and Lois Frankel. The hearing was an opportunity for AUAF to articulate its importance and advocate on behalf of Afghan students who remain ambitious to continue their education.
Dr. Bickford was joined by Breshna Musazai, an AUAF alumna and survivor of the 2016 terrorist attack on the university’s Kabul campus. Her presence underscored the resilience of AUAF’s students and the high stakes of ensuring the university’s survival.
See below to watch and read the full testimony.
Time stamp: 44:39