The Bridge Institute for Afghanistan
Afghanistan is going through one of the most sensitive and complex periods of its modern history. The political structure has collapsed, state legitimacy is questioned, social trust is severely damaged, humanitarian and economic crises continue, and Afghanistan’s engagement with the international community is suspended and uncertain. In such a situation, there is a vital need for an independent, scholarly, and multi-dimensional center to create intellectual and political convergence and to facilitate dialogue and consensus regarding Afghanistan’s future.
Our Institute, with a focus on research, dialogue, and facilitation of national and international consensus, has been established to prepare and present a practical and actionable roadmap for peace, stability, and Afghanistan’s political future.
Strategic Objective:
To establish a neutral and credible platform for dialogue, consensus-building, and presenting a comprehensive, inclusive, and acceptable political framework for Afghanistan’s future governance through the participation of all national and international stakeholders and by seeking its recognition in the United States, the United Nations, and the global community.
Operational Objectives:
1) Comprehensive Conference of Afghanistan’s Opposition:
- Invitation to all political groups opposing the Taliban
- Presentation of visions, plans, and proposals
- Formation of specialized committees
- Goal: Achieving a unified vision or minimum shared principles
2) Formal Meeting with Taliban Leadership:
- Dialogue on political future, power structure reform, political participation, and citizen rights
- Identifying a realistic path toward peaceful transition to an inclusive system
- Drawing on international peace negotiation experiences
3) International Academic & Expert Symposium:
- Invitation of experts from Afghanistan, the region, and the world
- Scientific analysis of successful political transition models (Sudan, Colombia, Nepal, Bosnia)
- Outcome: drafting a theoretical and legal framework for Afghanistan’s future
4) Special Roundtable with Actors of the Last 20 Years:
Including:
- Former political leaders
- Senior military and security commanders
- Diplomats and UN/NATO officials
- Analysis of past experiences, achievements, and failures
- Goal: avoiding repetition of past crises
5) Formation of Joint Team & Drafting the “Future of Afghanistan Plan”:
Members:
- Leadership Council of the Institute
- Afghan scholars and experts inside and outside Afghanistan
- Regional specialists
- International experts and policy advisors
Outcome: Comprehensive political transition plan including:
- Future governance structure
- Political participation and elections
- Constitutional and legal framework
- Women’s and ethnic minority rights
- Security sector reform
- Refugee return programs
- Economic and financial recovery
Implementation & Advocacy Phase
After finalization of the plan, a formal campaign will:
- Present it to the U.S. Congress
- Submit it to the U.S. State Department
- Raise it at the UN Security Council and General Assembly
- Present it in major policy forums in Washington and Brussels
- Advocate through think tanks, embassies, and diplomatic centers
- Goal: attaining international support for recognizing the plan as a legitimate roadmap for Afghanistan’s future
Core Principles & Values:
- Complete political neutrality
- Inclusion and social justice
- Evidence-based and scholarly approach
- Respect for human dignity and civil rights
- Peaceful and diplomatic solutions
- Preservation of Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity
- Focus on national—not factional—interests
Expected Outcomes:
- Initial consensus among Afghan groups
- Opening formal dialogue channels with the Taliban
- Creation of an international scholarly and legal consensus
- A clear proposal for Afghanistan’s future governance
- Securing U.S. and international support
- Creating the foundation for inclusive national elections
Final Vision:
An Afghanistan that is:
- Stable and peaceful
- Governed by a legitimate and accountable system
- Ensuring equal participation of all ethnicities and citizens
- Guaranteeing women’s rights and civil liberties
- A positive partner of the global community
- A contributor to regional stability
Institute Expertise Composition:
- Legal, political, and international relations experts
- Security and military specialists
- Economists and development experts
- Religious scholars
- Civil society and media specialists
- Women experts in various fields
- Minority representatives
- Afghan diaspora experts
Conclusion:
This program is neither a slogan nor a short-term project; it is a scientific, intellectual, and diplomatic process for building Afghanistan’s future—with the voice of all Afghans, and with global support.