The “National Dialogue Forum” Meeting in Turkey; Is This Karzai’s Initiative?
Bayan News – It was recently reported that a new entity called the “National Dialogue Forum” was held in Istanbul, Turkey, where figures from various political factions were in attendance. Current politicians from Kabul and Taliban representatives were invited, but not only did the Taliban refuse to participate, they also prevented some individuals from attending.
According to published figures, this two-day meeting brought together 70 political figures, including representatives from Afghan civil society and ethnic groups, to discuss and exchange ideas.
The meeting was held behind closed doors in Istanbul. Sources told Afghanistan International that the event was hosted by Hikmat Khalil Karzai, Mustafa Mastoor, and Idris Zaman.
One of the participants told the media that two representatives of the forum had traveled to Kabul seeking cooperation from the Taliban, Hamid Karzai, and Abdullah Abdullah. However, according to the source, none of these parties agreed to cooperate or send representatives to the meeting.
Social media users and some other sources claimed that this meeting was initiated by Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah. Over the past three years, these two political figures in Kabul have consistently promoted the concept of a national dialogue across Afghanistan.
Abdul Ali Mohammadi, an associate of Karzai, clarified these reports, stating: “National dialogue is a term used to refer to a roadmap and political process aimed at resolving the country’s current issues and crisis. Over the past three years, Hamid Karzai has presented this concept to various domestic and international parties, repeatedly emphasizing it in meetings and events, where it has been met with significant support.”
On his Facebook page, Mr. Mohammadi wrote that this does not imply the creation of a group or support for any specific person or entity under the title of national dialogue, and the former president believes it is only beneficial and effective if conducted with the participation of all Afghan people on a national level.
He further wrote, “Therefore, the meetings and efforts of others, even if they are called national dialogue, are not connected to the former president. In a meeting last week with two of the organizers of the recent Istanbul meeting, which I and some other advisors attended, they were advised not to focus their work on the former president.”
People Have the Right to Be Distrustful and Skeptical
Fawzia Koofi, one of the participants in the National Dialogue Forum in Istanbul, clarified that the intention of the participants is to learn from past experiences at every level and, if possible, to redefine common principles based on shared interests, forming a people-centered narrative rooted in social justice.
Koofi wrote on the platform X: “As everyone has witnessed, in the past three years, efforts have been made to unify the forces opposed to the Taliban around a local narrative aimed at establishing a system based on the will and desires of the people. I have dedicated part of my time and energy to these efforts, and I will continue to do so.”
According to Fawzia Koofi, creating such a narrative to replace the current situation is essential, and the first step requires dialogue among forces opposed to the Taliban.
She further clarified that, for this reason, she supports any opportunity that strengthens trust and agreement on common principles and values, taking into account Afghanistan’s generational, ideological, and ethnic diversity, while avoiding selfishness and superiority. She stated that she will continue her efforts to support and strengthen this initiative.
It is mentioned that Hikmat Khalil Karzai, a close associate of Karzai; Mustafa Mastoor, an associate of Abdullah Abdullah; and Idris Zaman, the former deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan who has close ties with the Taliban, are among the active members of this forum.
