A group of Afghan political activists gathered in Istanbul for a closed-door meeting to discuss Afghanistan’s political and humanitarian crisis, according to sources.
The event, held under the banner of the “National Dialogue Process,” took place on Thursday and Friday and was led by prominent figures including Hikmat Khalil Karzai, Mustafa Mastoor, and Idris Zaman.
The meeting brought together notable advocates for women’s rights, such as former MPs Shukria Barakzai, Fawzia Koofi, and Shahgul Rezai, as well as political figures like Jafar Mahdawi and Abdul Qayyum Sajadi.
However, none of the attendees have publicly commented on the meeting’s agenda or objectives.
Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar expressed optimism regarding the outcome of the gathering, writing on X: “The Istanbul meeting, with key Afghan political and civil society figures, is an encouraging step toward national consensus for a peaceful, inclusive, and legitimate governance solution in Afghanistan.”
This meeting marks the first time Turkey has allowed Afghan political activists to hold such a forum on its soil.
