An exclusive interview of the “Silk Way Weekly” with Wolfgang Petritsch, President of Austrian Institute for International Affairs and one of the founders of the Vienna Process.
Silk Way Weekly: Does the international community recognize the Vienna process for a democratic Afghanistan as the powerful opposition to the Taliban regime?
Wolfgang Petritsch: It took a while, but by the 3rd meeting of the Vienna process for a Democratic Afghanistan in 2023 several Western governments showed interest and were briefed by Afghan participants in Vienna. The 4th meeting in June 2024 with about 70 participants across all ethnic and religious denominations was by now the most successful gathering and again diplomatic interest was even greater. We are still not there because we want to be as broad and diverse in terms of active participation.
Silk Way Weekly: Does the international community support the Vienna process?
Wolfgang Petritsch: We are getting more and more signs of support, particularly since the UN-led Doha process is leading nowhere.
Silk Way Weekly: Is the Vienna process a discussion on the techniques of fighting the Taliban, or a dispute over the principle of the political system?
Wolfgang Petritsch: The Vienna Process is a strictly political meeting as expressed by the four working groups which were established in Vienna and which are meeting via zoom regularly in order to present policy papers on the working groups’ subjects: governance, regional issues/neighborhood, economy, human rights.
The stated goal is peaceful and political resistance development.
Silk Way Weekly: What is the proposed political system of the Vienna process?
Wolfgang Petritsch: We are still in the initial phase of analyzing the best possible political system for Afghanistan. Afghanistan has diverse ethno-religious traditions and cultures which should be represented in the new Afghan political system – inclusivity, equality and respect for all indigenous ethnic and religious groups is the primary goal of the Vienna Process.
Silk Way Weekly: Does the Vienna process have enough diplomatic (logical, rational, etc.) and field power to bring the international community along with it to change the structure of Afghanistan’s political system?
Wolfgang Petritsch: We want to avoid past mistakes committed by the external actors and domestic representatives and are therefore taking a serious and cautious road towards the best solution for Afghanistan. We are building a firm structure for and Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process. It is the Afghans themselves – inside and outside of the country – who need to take these crucial decisions for a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, in peace with itself and with its neighbors.
Silk Way Weekly: What practical progress has been made in the Vienna process so far and to what extent has it been effective on the situation in Afghanistan?
Wolfgang Petritsch: The progress is considerable. We receive an increasing number of messages of hope from Afghans in their country as well as from exiles around the globe. There is much attention in the capitals. We have established good relations with some of the most important governments who want to see a united opposition to end the terror against the Afghan population.
Silk Way Weekly: Is the Vienna process merely a political consultation, or more? What are its reasons and evidence?
Wolfgang Petritsch: The final goal of the Vienna Process is a political program for a better future of Afghanistan. The various working groups are supported by experts from all walks of life. We are confident that over the next months we will come closer to this goal.
Silk Way Weekly: To what extent does the civil society, women rights activists, political elites and the entire Afghan diaspora support the Vienna process and similar processes? What are the reasons for their hope and disappointment in such a process?
Wolfgang Petritsch: From the outset we have included and welcomed civil society, particularly women’s activists and the young generation as well as former officials with a positive track record in the Islamic Republic. Achievement so far are great, but we need to accelerate our efforts towards even better and concrete results to the benefit of all the citizens of Afghanistan – inside and outside of the country.
Silk Way Weekly: Are there any alternatives to the Vienna process? Why
ANSWER: There are several initiatives around the world which work into the same direction. We are already in touch with some of them. We will continue to reach out and cordially invite them to work on the joint vision for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
Thank you in advance for your answers to our questions.
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