Belgrade as a Discreet Platform for Afghan Dialogue

In the period prior to the Taliban’s final return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Belgrade hosted one of the lesser-known episodes of international efforts to initiate dialogue between the warring sides. In the Serbian capital, three rounds (March and July 2018, January 2019) of discreet talks were held between representatives of the Taliban movement and representatives of the then Afghan government, in an attempt to open space for a political solution to the long-standing conflict.

The talks were organized in a closed format and without media attention. Belgrade was chosen as a neutral and secure location that allowed for discreet contacts between parties that at that moment did not have direct official negotiations. The organization of the meetings was undertaken by the East West Bridge organization, with logistical support from the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

The meetings were held in facilities provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, which ensured a high level of security and full discretion. Serbia did not participate in the process as a negotiator or political mediator, but rather acted as the host and logistical facilitator of contacts between the two delegations.

According to available information, around twenty representatives of the two sides took part in the discussions. On the side of the then Afghan government, participants included Karim Khalili, former Vice President of Afghanistan and at the time Chairman of the High Peace Council, the body responsible for political dialogue with the Taliban. The Taliban delegation consisted of political representatives of the movement.

The atmosphere during the meetings was described as correct and constructive, with the gatherings viewed as a useful attempt to establish dialogue between the two sides. During these contacts, according to available accounts, a temporary easing of fighting was achieved in certain parts of Afghanistan.

The talks in Belgrade were part of a broader international process that at the time involved several parallel diplomatic channels. Following the Belgrade phase, the central venue for discussions on Afghanistan’s future became Doha in Qatar, where negotiations were held between the Taliban and the United States, and later broader intra-Afghan talks.

Although the contacts in Belgrade did not lead to a lasting political agreement, they represent an example of a discreet diplomatic platform that enabled a direct meeting between representatives of two opposing sides at a time when formal negotiations were still limited and politically sensitive.