RASC News Agency: Wolfgang Petritsch, President of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs and convener of the Vienna talks on Afghanistan, has emphasized that the international community must increase pressure on the Taliban to engage in political negotiations with their opponents and commit to a process of inclusive dialogue. In a recent media interview, Petritsch urged Afghanistani opposition groups to participate actively in the Vienna discussions, underscoring that their engagement is vital to shaping Afghanistan’s political future. “Afghanistanis must be central to the decision-making processes concerning their nation’s destiny,” he said. “The international community must recognize and support this fundamental right.”
Commenting on the objectives of the Vienna talks, Petritsch stated: “Since 2023, we have been engaged in deliberations to develop a roadmap for Afghanistan’s future. The time has now come for this roadmap to be shaped through the meaningful participation of Afghanistani political actors.” He clarified that the purpose of the Vienna process is not to initiate confrontation with the Taliban, but to pave the way for constructive dialogue. “The Taliban remain a reality on the ground. However, we are not seeking further conflict. Afghanistan has endured enough suffering and war. It is imperative to create space for genuine dialogue,” Petritsch said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that diplomatic initiatives alone will not suffice. Petritsch called for coordinated political pressure from the United States, the European Union, and regional powers to compel the Taliban to enter discussions with opposition groups and to consider inclusive governance frameworks. He noted that some Taliban factions exhibit comparatively moderate tendencies and may, under appropriate conditions, be open to participating in political processes such as elections. “Our ultimate goal is to transform fragmented conversations into a concrete and actionable political solution,” he said. “According to the Doha Agreement, the Taliban committed to dialogue with all non-Taliban entities in Afghanistan. That commitment must now be honored and implemented.”
The Vienna talks remain one of the few viable political platforms to emerge following the collapse of the previous Afghanistani government. The fifth round of discussions, held earlier this year in Vienna, brought together key opposition leaders including Ahmad Massoud, Yasin Zia, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, and others figures who continue to represent alternative visions for Afghanistan’s future. Despite international isolation and mounting domestic repression, the Taliban have shown no willingness to participate in meaningful political dialogue. Instead, they have entrenched their rule through authoritarian governance, systematic exclusion of non-Taliban actors, gender-based repression, and an orchestrated crackdown on civil liberties and press freedoms.
As Petritsch and other global actors have cautioned, the longer the international community delays decisive action, the more deeply the Taliban will consolidate their autocratic regime. The Vienna Process stands as both a rare opportunity for reconciliation and a stark reminder that Afghanistan’s future must be shaped through inclusion, not imposition.
