Business Meetings in Afghanistan

- Business is very much personal in Afghanistan. If you have not already invested some quality time in getting to know your counterparts, then you must use initial meetings to establish trust.
- Once this has been accomplished you can move on to the nitty-gritty of business.
-  Do not be surprised or offended if during meetings people walk in and out of a room or phone calls are taken.
-  If the meeting involves a group of people it will be led by the leader who will set the agenda, the content, and the pace of the activities. 
-  Meetings are usually held to communicate information and decisions that have already been rather than a forum for discussion and brain storming. 
-  Meeting schedules are not very structured. Start times, points of discussion, etc are all fluid and flexible. Be prepared for a lot of tangents in the discussions.
-  Afghani communication style is rather indirect. It is therefore sometimes necessary to read between the lines for an answer rather than expect it to be explicitly stated. For example, if someone is asked if they can complete a job on time, you will rarely get "no" as the answer. It is therefore also important to phrase questions intelligently. 
-  Honour and shame should always be considered. Always express yourself in a way that is not direct or pins blame on someone. Never make accusations or speak down to anyone.