In the current stagnant political climate of the nation, it is both valuable and commendable to hold conferences such as the Second Vienna Conference. As long as stagnation, inaction, passivity, and spectatorship persist, the Taliban‘s rule will be extended and its foundations will become more solidified. Consequently, it is essential to support and embrace any voice and movement against the Taliban, while avoiding any negative and unproductive pessimism that will only further weaken the opposition to the Taliban. Furthermore, providing a platform for dialogue between the various political factions and currents in the country, who are divided by numerous gaps and dispersals, can create an opportunity to resolve misunderstandings and increase the likelihood of reaching an agreement between the groups.
At the Vienna conference, representatives of all factions stressed that the current fragmentation of anti–Taliban forces must be brought to an end, as this is the only way to break the Taliban‘s absolute rule and open a path to the future. The Taliban‘s successes have been more a result of the weaknesses of the opposing side, both during the republic era and afterwards, rather than the strength of this group. The Taliban is one of the most inefficient and notorious groups in the region in terms of planning and programming, and had it not been for the weaknesses of the republic system in the past and the dispersal of anti–Taliban forces afterwards, this group would not have achieved success either domestically or internationally.
All observers, both domestic and foreign, are aware that the Taliban is widely disliked, and all governments, even those with positive relations with the group, view it as a destructive force. However, due to governments‘ consideration of powerful and strategic partnerships in the region, and the inability of opposing groups to form a unified front and present themselves as a reliable alternative, countries around the world are compelled to turn to the Taliban out of necessity. In reality, the Taliban‘s longevity and the atrocities they commit against the people are the consequence of the actions of selfish, corrupt, and short–sighted politicians who refuse to cooperate with others and form a unified anti–Taliban consensus. As a result of this lack of political awareness, they prolong their own humiliation and impotence, and they also divide and weaken the ranks of the Taliban‘s opponents. In these circumstances, there is no valid justification for unilateralism, and any calls that hint at division and factionalism will only serve to spread the inner malice of its proponents.
It is essential that action is taken without delay to form a unified political coalition of all anti–Taliban forces. This should be of the utmost importance at this juncture, and any attempts to disrupt or any excuses made should be made public in order to document their dishonorable past. Those with knowledge of history can easily see that since the nineteenth century, this country has suffered its greatest losses and missed out on great opportunities due to the same lack of foresight, incompetence, self–interest, animosity, and opportunism that have been exhibited by some of its politicians. Disunity and fragmentation are not acceptable and should not be tolerated. A timeline should be established for the formation of a unified anti–Taliban front, which should encompass all of the diversity and differences of opinion, and this is what the people of Afghanistan and the international community are eagerly awaiting. A replacement for the Taliban must be prepared so that the world can reassess its calculations.
