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Afghan National Dialogue

Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate Systemگزارش مطبوعاتی – نخستین نشست گفتمان ملی «مرکهء ملی» در ملبورنپه ملبورن کې د ملي مرکې د لومړۍ ناستې مطبوعاتي راپور

Date: 2026-04-26Location: Melbourne, Australia

About the event

The first National Dialogue meeting in Melbourne, Australia, was held with a large number of political, academic and cultural figures and civil activists, who engaged in deep discussions on the country's fundamental problems, identified priorities and put forward practical solutions.

The meeting was hosted and moderated by Mr. Naqib Momand; Dr. Khusraw Yusufzai opened with a Quran recitation, and after the national anthem, senior organiser Mr. Mumtaz Amin delivered the opening address, declaring that “today we witness the beginning of a new chapter for Afghanistan's future — a chapter founded on national unity, national cohesion and national consensus”, and describing the National Dialogue as an independent, people-driven, Afghan-led initiative whose mission is to rebuild trust, strengthen unity and create a national platform where every Afghan's voice is heard.

Dr. Ajab Noor then explained the goals, vision and principles of the National Dialogue, its work so far and its future plans, stressing that it is not merely talk but a popular movement seeking a credible platform for national dialogue, a culture of tolerance and mutual respect, the ground for lasting peace, stability and social justice, and ultimately a legitimate and inclusive system based on the national will; guest speaker Mr. Samiullah Safi urged that the process be protected from foreign and factional influence, and Mr. Jawid Maqsudi recited a heartfelt poem in support of national unity.

In the second part, in-depth discussions moderated by Dr. Nasir Malakzai, Ms. Mahbooba Babakarkhel and Mr. Jawid Maqsudi covered three main axes: the country's fundamental problems — including the absence of a legitimate system and constitution, ethnic discord and social mistrust, human rights violations (especially restrictions on women's education and work), the school-versus-madrasa divide, economic crisis, unemployment, mass migration and the plight of refugees in Pakistan and Iran; practical solutions — including a structured framework for national dialogue, a roadmap towards political consensus and a Loya Jirga, a culture of trust and mutual acceptance, economic infrastructure and job creation, and a common national address with a united voice; and the role of the Afghan diaspora — combating prejudice, building coordination networks among Afghan associations in Australia, creating specialist networks, conveying Afghans' voice to international bodies, championing women's rights and girls' education, and expanding National Dialogue branches to other Australian cities.

Summing up, Dr. Nasir Malakzai highlighted the absence of the rule of law, discord and prejudice, and the ban on girls' education as the key challenges; participants voiced deep concern over political isolation, poverty, unemployment and human rights violations, affirmed that national unity, coordination and cohesion can end the country's fundamental problems, and decided to establish National Dialogue branches in Melbourne and other Australian cities.

This was the eleventh National Dialogue meeting, following the series previously held in London, Berlin, Sacramento, Cologne, Birmingham, Hamburg, Toronto, Walsall and Frankfurt — let us write Afghanistan's future together!

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Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate System
Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate System
Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate System
Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate System
Press Report — First National Dialogue Meeting in Melbourne: Participants Stress National Dialogue, Unity and Political Consensus, Human Rights and a Legitimate System