Fourth Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan Begins

The fourth Vienna conference titled “Vienna Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan” began on Monday in the city of Vienna, attended by dozens of opponents of the Taliban group and political activists. It is said that there are two main views at this conference. Some participants emphasize the final effort to resume intra-Afghan talks and negotiations as the only solution, while the other group emphasizes the military option in addition to negotiations.

Ahmad Massoud, leader of the so-called National Resistance Front, rejected the view that the current situation and Taliban rule has no alternative in his opening speech at this conference, saying that the alternative to the Taliban is a process that creates legitimacy.

However, Mohammad Mohaqiq, one of the former jihadi leaders of Afghanistan, took a softer tone regarding some Taliban leaders. Mr. Mohaqiq called on the Taliban to engage in dialogue and negotiations.

Qari Issa Mohammadi, one of the civil activists present at this gathering, told Radio Azadi that it was pointed out at Monday’s meeting that the Taliban have shown no signs of resuming intra-Afghan negotiations over the past three years and have focused on appointing their own people to the government, disregarding government cadres, other ethnicities, and religions.

So far, three rounds of these conferences have been held in Vienna with the participation of some politicians from the previous republican system and some activists in the Austrian capital. The aim of these conferences has been to strengthen political consensus, resolve Afghanistan’s challenges through dialogue, exert diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, and guarantee the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens and women.