Managing Director at National Archives of Afghanistan

“Archiving and Libraries in Modern Afghanistan: A Preliminary History of Afghanistan National Archives”

Arshif-e Mill-i Afghanistan or ‘Afghanistan National Archives’ is the main governmental organization for collection and preservation of the official and historical documents of Afghanistan. Prior to establishment of ANA in 1973, a storage room of the Royal Palace in Kabul was the main depository of official and related materials. ANA has three designated responsibilities: collection and preservation of Afghanistan’s historical documents and visual materials; provision of accessibility of the materials for scholarly and policy research communities and individuals; ANA’s simultaneous commitment to encourage, participate, and promote production of knowledge in and of Afghanistan at the local, regional, and global levels. Beyond technological changes and practices of archiving that are currently the dominant theme of library and archive studies, this paper will focus on the cultural and social aspects of archiving. In doing so it will highlight these two aspects of archiving in Afghanistan with exploring ANA’s history, recent administrative and organizational changes, and the current challenges of archival practices and libraries, such as access and holding, in the context of nation-building and cultural heritage preservation programs in Afghanistan.

Ms. Nazari is the Director of Afghanistan National Archives, Kabul-Afghanistan and an independent scholar. She has a MA in Library of Science from Ferdawsi University, Iran. Prior her appointment as director of the archives Ms. Nazari has worked in various library sectors and library practices in Afghanistan including at the Afghanistan’s Office of Attorney General.

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