RASC News Agency: A coalition of anti-Taliban political factions and figures will convene in Vienna on June 24 for a meeting aimed at achieving “political unity and establishing a clear and shared vision among free Afghanistanis.” According to available information, participants will include members of the National Resistance Front led by Ahmad Massoud, the Freedom Front, and representatives from the Jamiat, Junbish, and Wahdat Islamic parties.
Organizers anticipate nearly 70 attendees for this two-day conference. As with previous gatherings, the conference will invite not only political and military factions but also former government officials, university professors, civil society activists, and media representatives. Initial attendee lists reportedly include prominent names such as Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front; Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former Foreign Minister; Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of the National Directorate of Security; and Sima Samar, former chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
However, it remains unclear which other political parties and military factions from Afghanistan will participate. The last Vienna meeting, held in December 2023 in Austria’s capital, apparently did not yield significant results. The Taliban have banned political party activities in Afghanistan, declaring them religiously impermissible, which has effectively halted all political party operations in the country.
Recently, a meeting among Taliban opponents took place in Tehran, to which the Taliban were invited but did not attend. For two years, Taliban opponents have been meeting in various countries to seek solutions for Afghanistan’s challenges. Ahmad Massoud, a regular and vocal participant in these meetings, has consistently advocated for armed resistance against the Taliban, with his forces actively operating in the Hindu Kush regions.
