The 'Herat Security Dialogues' Meeting Focused on the Situation in Afghanistan Held in Tajikistan

On Monday, December 6, the capital of Tajikistan hosted the 11th 'Herat Security Dialogues' meeting organized by the Afghanistan Strategic Studies Institute, titled 'Revisiting Afghanistan: Different Approaches.' According to Voice of America, nearly 150 participants from 25 countries and international organizations, including former American and European diplomats, attended the meeting in Dushanbe. Officials from the institute stated that the Taliban were also invited to send representatives to this meeting, but no Taliban officials attended. In addition to the presence of some former Afghan officials, including Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan's National Security, and Rangin Dadfar Spanta, a former national security advisor, dozens of anti-Taliban figures, mainly former jihadist leaders from Afghanistan, also participated in the meeting. Rangin Dadfar Spanta stated that after the 'collapse and surrender of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Taliban,' the group's government continues with 'tyranny and oppression, in the most primitive form.' He said, 'Our people's struggle will continue until we achieve freedom and justice.' Spanta noted that the Taliban came to power as a result of the ineffectiveness of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and due to structural changes in the international political system and new global strategic conditions. Some well-known Pashtun figures from Pakistan, including Mohsin Dawar, Afrasiab Khattak, and Bushra Gohar, former members of the Pakistani parliament, were also invited to the meeting. Mohsin Dawar told Voice of America that holding such dialogues is very necessary for Afghanistan, as a group has taken control of Afghanistan 'by the force of the gun.' Dawar criticized the Taliban's approach in Afghanistan, stating, 'The Taliban are seeking foreign legitimacy but have not thought about gaining legitimacy from the people of Afghanistan.' Although it has been over two years and three months since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and formed their government, no country has recognized their regime. Bushra Gohar, a senior leader of the Pakistan National Democratic Movement, praised the resistance of Afghan women against the Taliban, saying, 'We must acknowledge the courage of Afghan women, as they are fighting not only for their rights but for the rights of women in the region and beyond.' Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they have imposed numerous restrictions on women, denying women and girls the right to work and education beyond the sixth grade. Shukria Barakzai, a former member of Afghanistan's National Assembly, emphasized the importance of such meetings, stating that the concerns of the Afghan people are reflected in these discussions. She told Voice of America, 'The question was raised: What kind of Afghanistan is beneficial for the region and the world; an Afghanistan that is dragged towards terrorism and embroiled in internal and regional crises, or an Afghanistan that moves towards global engagement where violence and brutality have no place?' In the sidelines of this meeting, Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistan's National Security, told Voice of America that academic and research discussions were held in the Herat Security Dialogues, and the meeting did not have a political nature. Nabil stated, 'Regarding the Taliban, there is no transparency, perspective, and consensus in the region. Views are very diverse; some consider Afghanistan a 'black hole,' while others see it as an opportunity. Returning Afghanistan to its people requires resolving these diverse perspectives.' The organizers of the Herat Security Dialogues stated that in the meeting on Monday, issues related to Afghanistan, including 'gender apartheid, security issues, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, and the effectiveness of this aid,' would be discussed. Voice of America requested a comment from the Taliban regarding the Herat Security Dialogues and the recent meeting about Afghanistan in Moscow, where the Taliban were not invited, but Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, declined to comment. Report: Afghan Witness: Online harassment of Afghan women has tripled during the Taliban era. Germany is investigating a senior Taliban official's visit to the country.