Conference in Ankara focuses on Afghanistan’s political future, regional role

A conference on Afghanistan’s political future and its role in the region opened in Ankara on Friday, bringing together the country’s political figures, civil society members and analysts.

At the event, titled “Political Transformation and Regional Order,” several participants criticized what they described as the concentration of power and a highly centralized system of governance in Afghanistan, arguing that it has marginalized ethnic groups and limited their participation in political decision-making.

Some speakers also described Afghanistan as both a connecting point for the region and, at the same time, a source of instability.

Rahila Dostum, former MP and head of the Dostum Foundation, was among those who spoke at the event, along with Shukria Barakzai, who said political elites should work toward solutions to the country’s crisis.

“Besides these challenges, one of the biggest challenges in Afghanistan is monopoly of power, a centralized governance system, and injustice. Such centralization of power has caused various ethnic groups to be marginalized from decision-making processes,” Rahila Dostum said.

Organizers said the conference aimed to create a platform for dialogue among Afghan politicians, civil society representatives, academics and experts to examine Afghanistan’s role in regional and international developments.

Aliya Yilmaz, the founder of the Lajivard Yolu Research and Policy Center, the organizer of the event, said the discussions were intended to encourage policy-oriented engagement on Afghanistan.

“One of the goals of the conference is to establish an internal dialogue about Afghanistan,” Yilmaz said.

The conference is scheduled to continue on Saturday.