24 September 2026
On 24 September 2026, at a side event of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly titled "Afghanistan's Path Forward: Toward an Afghan-Led Political Process for Inclusive Governance and Regional Security," PEN AF President and Founder Dr. Zakia Adeli presented concrete proposals on Track Two diplomacy and the role of Afghan professionals in shaping Afghanistan's future.
She argued that, with formal diplomatic channels limited, Afghan academics and professionals, who maintain trust across Afghan communities, offer one of the most credible paths forward. She put forward three proposals:
- Afghan technical experts should take part as independent analysts in the active working groups of the Doha Process, including those on counter-narcotics and the private sector, and in any future specialized working groups.
- UN agencies active in Afghanistan should involve Afghan academics and professionals in every phase of programme design, evaluation and oversight, not only implementation.
- Afghan legal experts, public policy specialists and subject-matter experts should play an active role in the Independent Investigative Mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council.
"The expertise exists. The professionals are ready. What is needed is the decision to use this capacity."
