Herat Security Dialogue-XI

11^th Herat Security Dialogue (HSD- XI)
“Reimagining Afghanistan: Ways Forward”
November 27-28, 2023 - Dushanbe, Tajikistan

After more than two years since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the situation in the country continues to deteriorate steadily. Over this period, Afghanistan's economic state has significantly worsened. Individual and civil liberties have been systematically violated, and strict restrictions have been imposed on freedom of expression. Afghanistan has, over the past two years, transformed into an information void, with limited news coming out about new developments and events within the country. Despite the dire circumstances in Afghanistan, there are ongoing efforts by certain groups to present a more favourable image of the Taliban. Furthermore, the international community, along with Qatar and Pakistan, has made numerous attempts in the past two years to persuade the Taliban to adhere to international norms, particularly in the areas of human rights and women's rights. Unfortunately, these efforts have been met with little success. Simultaneously, the security landscape in the region has undergone a profound shift since the Taliban's rise to power. The resurgence of international terrorism poses a renewed threat to the region. Afghanistan has once again become a safe haven for international terrorists and transnational jihadists. Central Asian countries are deeply concerned about the presence of Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Afghanistan, viewing it as a significant threat to their national security. Pakistan, in particular, is alarmed by the close and multi-layered relationship between the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. In an endeavour to seek common ground and address the long-standing and intricate conflict in Afghanistan, the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) initiated its annual "Herat Security Dialogue" in 2012. To date, ten conferences on various Afghan-related issues have been held by AISS. Similarly, the AISS is organizing the 11th Herat Security Conference on the theme "Reimagining Afghanistan: Ways Forward". This conference is scheduled to take place on November 27 and 28, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. As in previous years, the conference will gather a diverse group of experts on Afghanistan, civil society representatives, academics, domestic and international journalists, former government officials, and representatives of international organizations. The aim is to explore the challenges facing Afghanistan and discuss viable solutions. The Herat Security Conference serves as a platform for engaging in dialogue across different political spectrums and reconciling divergent viewpoints on Afghanistan's future. It represents an earnest effort to finally address the enduring problems that have affected the Afghan people for half a century.