Universal Peace Federation (UPF)
'The Iraq War 20 years on: What lessons can we learn that are relevant today?' Dr. Afzal Ashraf
Tuesday, 28th March, 2023
43 Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3NA and Online
The Universal Peace Federation UK (UPF UK) hosted an important and timely reflection on the twentieth anniversary of the 2003 Iraq War, exploring what lessons can guide today’s diplomacy, peacebuilding, and global security. The event, held at UPF UK’s headquarters at 43 Lancaster Gate, welcomed participants both in person and online.
Reflecting on a Defining Moment in Global Affairs
The invasion of Iraq by the “coalition of the willing” on 20 March 2003 remains one of the most consequential interventions of the 21st century. Two decades later, questions about the justification for the war, the intelligence used, and the decisions made during post-conflict reconstruction continue to shape international relations.
UPF UK convened this discussion to foster deeper understanding of the war’s long-term impact and to highlight the importance of ethical leadership, multilateral dialogue, and responsible decision-making—core values promoted through UPF’s global network and its Ambassadors for Peace programme.
Dr Afzal Ashraf: A Practitioner and Scholar of International Security
The keynote speaker, Dr Afzal Ashraf, brought exceptional insight and credibility to the discussion. A former senior officer in the UK Armed Forces, Dr Ashraf served in operations ranging from famine relief in Africa to deterrence missions in the Cold War, and from stabilisation efforts in the South Atlantic to strategic work in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His career spans both operational service and high-level policy roles, including:
- Supporting diplomacy in the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Working across governmental security departments on analysis, information fusion, and communication
- Teaching International Relations, Politics and History at the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University
Drawing on this broad experience, Dr Ashraf examined the stated reasons for the invasion, the intelligence challenges, and the difficulties of building a stable political and social order in post-war Iraq.
Lessons for Today’s World
Dr Ashraf’s reflections highlighted several critical lessons:
- The need for accurate intelligence and due process before military intervention
- The importance of political legitimacy in post-conflict reconstruction
- The consequences of overlooking local dynamics, history, and social structures
- The necessity of long-term international cooperation when supporting fragile states
These lessons remain highly relevant as the international community faces complex conflicts from the Middle East to Eastern Europe and Africa.
UPF UK’s Commitment to Peace and Dialogue
This programme is part of UPF UK’s ongoing efforts to advance peace education, intercultural understanding, and ethical leadership. By convening experts from diplomacy, academia, security, and civil society, UPF UK continues to create platforms where challenging issues can be explored constructively.
Through initiatives such as the Inter-Religious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), Ambassadors for Peace, and public lectures at Lancaster Gate, UPF UK aims to strengthen the foundations of peace in the UK and globally.
See photos here
Video of speech here
Selected Articles:
- Fostering Dialogue and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula
- UPF Founders’ Legacy of Peacebuilding
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Global South Perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine War and Consequent Geopolitical Tensions
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