Taliban Opponents Gather in Islamabad to Explore Peaceful Solutions

DID Press: A two-day meeting of political opponents of the Taliban government, titled “Regional Dialogue: Toward Unity and Trust”, began on Monday in Islamabad.

The gathering, jointly organized by Women for Afghanistan and the South Asia Strategic Stability Institute, aims to strengthen regional cooperation and outline a shared vision for Afghanistan’s political future.

Prominent Afghanistan political and civil figures attending the event include Fawzia Koofi, former member of the Afghaniatan parliament; Mostafa Mastoor, former Minister of Economy; Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva; Ahmadullah Alizay, former governor of Kabul; Taher Zuhair, former governor of Bamyan; Abdullah Qarluq of National Movement Party; and Masoumeh Khawari of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan.

In her opening remarks, Fawzia Koofi emphasized the need for a meaningful and inclusive leadership that ensures equal rights for all Afghanistan citizens. She particularly highlighted the difficult situation of Afghanistan women under Taliban rule, stressing the importance of addressing this alongside other national challenges.

Koofi also described Pakistan’s role in the process as crucial, noting that constructive engagement between the two countries is essential for addressing shared concerns and building mutual trust. She stressed that sustainable peace in the region would be impossible without effective cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The organizers, who faced several delays before successfully holding the meeting, aim to explore ways to build trust and mutual understanding among different Afghanistan factions and regional countries.

The ultimate goal is to identify solutions to overcome Afghanistan’s current political deadlock and achieve lasting peace and stability.

Expected to have a significant impact on Afghanistan’s future political trajectory, this meeting is considered the first step toward broader political dialogue among Taliban opponents and other groups.