10 Years after Petersberg

Retrospect and reporting
The conference begins with a review of the last ten years of international engagement in Afghanistan. Together with guests from the region, we discuss the current state of political developments, the sustainability of democ-ratic institutions, and the rule of law in Afghanistan. Despite the international community’s massive civilian and military engagement, developments in Afghanistan, from the perspective of its citizens as well as of the “West,” remain below expectations. The development of state institutions has been slow, the citizens are turning away from the state, and the still fragile structures are facing more and more challenges from insurgents. The Taliban is still a key factor, but the question as to whether and to what extent the Taliban should be included in the political process remains controversial.

Afghanistan on the air
Television was forbidden under the Taliban, today it is a leisure activity for a large part of the Afghan population. Around 97 percent of participants in a HBS youth survey conducted in Kabul admitted to regularly watching television and are familiar with the news and entertainment programmes of broadcasters. The most successful Afghan TV channel, Tolo TV, reaches up to 60 percent of the population nationwide. We discuss the influence of new media formats with representatives of the Afghan media.   

Afghanistan as a state of citizens?
How has Afghan civil society developed over the last ten years? Are human rights on the rise or on the defen-sive? Are women’s rights in particular under pressure? What role does Islam play in the (socio-) political devel-opment in the country? Overall, ethnic and religious divides in Afghanistan have deepened in recent years. The underdeveloped party system contributes to this divide, but so do civil society organisations that are perceived to represent either special interest groups or Western interests. The varying developments in the individual parts of the country raises the question, to what extent can the interests of the general population be pursued. Together with expert representatives from Afghan civil society, we will address these questions. 
The “troubled” neighbourhood – security-political rivalry and cooperation in the region
The future of Afghanistan also lies in the hands of the neighbouring countries. Security-political rivalry and the assurance of spheres of influence appear to stand in the way of positive developments in Afghanistan. In particular, the Afghan-Pakistan relationship is shaped by mutual distrust. Knowing that the regional powers play a decisive role in Afghanistan, a large regional conference is being held in Turkey in October 2011. The third panel is devoted to these states and will analyse their respective impact on the development of the country from an Afghan perspective.

Future prospects
Petersberg, located near Bonn, is a historical place – not only in German, but also in Afghan history. It was ten years ago there that the Petersburg Agreement, which outlined Afghanistan’s democratic transition process, was concluded. It was there that the foundation for the international community’s civil and military engagement, which continues today, was set. But while the military engagement draws to a close in 2014, the civil commitment will remain in place. Therefore, the foreign minister conference in Bonn will also address what will happen with Afghanistan when international troops have left the country. As part of our final panel, we will dedicate ourselves to these issues and place the withdrawal and future prospects of the country in the focal point.