The former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, has praised the UAE as a “beacon of openness.” Speaking at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, he said the UAE’s blend of modern and traditional values was an example to the world. Discussing the war on terror and the impact on Muslim countries, Karzai called for a global consensus to eradicate terrorism. He added that better education and higher living standards would help to address the problem.