The National Dialogue Process has announced that a two-day meeting held in Istanbul, Türkiye, convened with the participation of 70 representatives from diverse ethnic and political backgrounds in Afghanistan.
According to organisers, the majority of attendees highlighted the urgent need to initiate a transparent process of intra-Afghan dialogue.
The meeting took place behind closed doors in Istanbul. Sources informed Afghanistan International that it was hosted by Hekmat Khalil Karzai, Mustafa Mastoor, and Idris Zaman.
Certain sources revealed that the organisers extended invitations to various groups, including the Taliban; however, the Taliban, along with other political figures and groups, opted not to attend.
One of the organisers informed Afghanistan International that two representatives from the assembly had travelled to Kabul, seeking collaboration from the Taliban, former President Hamid Karzai, and Abdullah Abdullah. According to the source, none of these parties committed to cooperate or sent delegates to the meeting.
Following reports indicating that Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah may have been involved in organising the event, Karim Khurram and Abdolali Mohammadi, close associates of Hamid Karzai, clarified that while the former president supports political dialogue and engagement among Afghans, he did not participate in organising the meeting, nor did he send any representatives.
A source disclosed that invitations were also extended to members of the National Resistance Front and the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, both of whom declined to attend.
On Saturday, the National Dialogue Assembly released its inaugural statement, asserting that it “seeks to bring together all stakeholders involved in Afghanistan’s issues and, through a national dialogue process, provide effective and lasting solutions for peace and lasting stability in the country.”
The statement outlined the primary aim of the National Dialogue Process as the creation of a constructive space for dialogue among Afghan citizens, both within Afghanistan and abroad, aiming to bolster national trust and address political, social, economic, and cultural challenges.
The National Dialogue Process noted that its activities commenced in 2022, spearheaded by the initiative and collective ownership of political, social, and economic figures within Afghanistan. Operating with a council structure and a rotating presidency, the current head of the group is reportedly Babar Farahmand, former deputy of the High Peace Council in the previous government.
Active members of the group include Hekmat Khalil Karzai, a close associate of Karzai; Mustafa Mastoor, affiliated with Abdullah Abdullah; and Idris Zaman, former deputy of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who maintains close ties with the Taliban.