Pakistan Hosts Key Dialogue on Afghan Unity and Trust

Islamabad, September 29 (PTI) – A pivotal two-day dialogue began in Pakistan on Monday, focusing on the future of Afghanistan, a nation plagued by decades of conflict. The event, titled 'Towards Unity and Trust,' is spearheaded by Women for Afghanistan (WFA) and the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University (SASSI).

According to organisers, this dialogue aims to encourage constructive discussions among Afghan leaders, both women and men, and their Pakistani counterparts. Fawzia Koofi, who leads WFA and is currently in exile, has orchestrated several meetings primarily with women activists at odds with Afghan Taliban policies. Koofi has been a staunch critic of Taliban governance. Dr. Maria Sultan, a defense analyst, leads SASSI.

The dialogue seeks to "promote inclusive and constructive discussions among leaders from diverse Afghan societal segments to develop a shared understanding for Afghanistan's future stability, inclusivity, and peaceful resolution," the organisers stated. Dawn newspaper highlighted that the event features 37 Afghan invitees, which includes former governors, ministers, lawmakers, and women activists from the administrations of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. Some invitees could not attend due to visa issues, according to a participant.

"This timely dialogue aims to foster mutual understanding and lasting cooperation among diverse Afghan leaders and their Pakistani counterparts," the organisers stated. On its first day, the closed-door meeting encouraged Afghan leaders to engage candidly, exchange views, and define shared principles supporting stability, rule of law, and women's rights and inclusion, as reported by Dawn.

On September 30, the second day will host a Joint Pak-Afghan Session focusing on building trust, identifying common ground, and advancing people-centric approaches to address regional challenges. The organisers stressed the importance of women’s participation and inclusive governance, emphasizing that "peace between people leads to peace between nations."

The dialogue aims to enhance cooperation between Afghan and Pakistani leaders and promote sustainable development and peace rooted in shared values. It also seeks to find common solutions to regional challenges and build trust and stability.

"We believe a people-centric approach focused on economic development and regional cooperation will enhance the relationship between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan," the organisers stated.

Initially scheduled for August 25-26, the event was postponed after criticism from Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy. Khalilzad described the meeting as "unwise" owing to the involvement of individuals opposing the Afghan Taliban.

"Afghan citizens are entitled to their political views, but Pakistan's apparent support by hosting their conference is hugely unwise and an intended provocation," he remarked on X.

In response, former Afghan parliamentarian Fawzia Koofi noted, "Isn't it time to let us decide what is best for us?" The event marks the first substantial gathering of political opponents of the Afghan Taliban since the group's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, ousting a government bolstered by NATO-led Western alliances.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)