What is the role of religion in Afghanistan? Should a future state have an official religion? How — or should — the international community engage with the Taliban, or does doing so confer legitimacy on a repressive regime?
These questions were at the heart of a recent convening hosted by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development, part of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs.
Hosted by Notre Dame Rome, the gathering brought together 20 women from the Afghan diaspora to wrestle with a variety of issues and imagine a peaceful and pluralistic future. The convening, which was organized to elevate women's voices, united this diverse group around a singular task: contributing to a larger vision for a just, inclusive and peaceful Afghanistan. It is part of a larger effort by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development to promote ongoing dialogue in an effort to build that future.
“Hope was a difficult word for me to say,” one participant said, reflecting a sentiment shared by other participants amid ongoing uncertainty over Afghanistan’s future. But hope animated the conversations that unfolded over several days.
Discussion explored core themes that included the role of religion and the importance of inclusion. Participants grappled with how to ensure meaningful representation across ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and regional lines, and called for the inclusion of people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and rural communities.
A central question was whether religious pluralism remains viable when some conservative interpretations of Islam disenfranchise vulnerable groups, including women. Participants recognized that religion would likely be part of Afghanistan’s future governance, thus making the work of reimagining its role even more important.
Conversation also focused on international engagement with the Taliban. Participants expressed concern that even minimal diplomatic contact by European and regional powers risks conferring tacit approval on an oppressive regime. This was in tension with another concern: finding leverage to demand that the regime uphold basic human rights.
Navigating this dilemma was further complicated by the reality articulated by an attending diplomat: There is no appetite globally or domestically for armed resistance. This dynamic has led the Afghan diaspora to seek accountability without relying on it.
Following virtual solidarity exchanges with veteran activists from Indonesia, Gaza, Syria, Myanmar and Northern Ireland, the focus shifted from vision to action. Drawing on insights from these contexts, participants formally committed to continuing their work together as they support building a diverse coalition to help shape Afghanistan’s future.
The Rome gathering is part of the broader Dialogue and Visioning Process organized by the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development. The process brings together multiple constituencies, including scholars, human rights experts, political leaders, economists and activists.
The program has tasked each cohort with drafting a vision document of shared principles for the country's future. Earlier contributions had highlighted the need to elevate women’s voices as part of the conversation.
“Afghan women particularly from marginalized minorities bear the weight of the crisis like no other group,” said Aref Dostyar, program director for the Afghanistan Program for Peace and Development. “That’s why we built a dedicated space for women to facilitate internal dialogues. Their conversations will ripple outward and enrich the ongoing discussions we continue to support.”
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