Toward a Sovereign Afghanistan

Abstract

Focusing on four key issue areas relevant to the immediate and near future of Afghanistan including governance and economy, identity, reconciliation and reintegration, and the region and macro region, the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination sponsored a colloquium October 20-22, 2011 in Potsdam, Germany. Key findings included: 1) “by, for, and with the Afghans and Afghanistan” must be the motto of any international involvement, and the international community must credibly convey its sustained involvement in Afghanistan; 2) sustainable job creation is key to future stability as economics, governance, and security are inexorably linked; 3) governance reform must deal with and effectively anticipate corruption through both top-down and bottom-up approaches; 4) the development of civil society is an important factor in the development of Afghan identity, and it must become more unified and vocal; 5) negotiations with and reintegration of the Taliban are potentially years-long processes, and should not be seen as a “short-cut” to end the insurgency; 6) all discussions about and policies implemented for Afghanistan’s political, economic, and security futures must guard against ethnic separation and must protect women’s and minority rights; 7) diplomatic efforts fostering collective support for Afghan stability and prosperity among Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors and the wider region are essential as the drawdown of international forces occurs; 8) a stable, peaceful, and economically viable Afghanistan is crucial for the stability, peace, and economic vitality of the wider region; 9) only a stable region can foster stability and development in Afghanistan.