The Taliban’s resurgence on August 15, 2021, destroyed the hopes that had been growing for a democratic and peaceful Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are once again facing a severe political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis marked by human rights violations, poverty, oppression, and fear. The political and social systems established over the previous two decades, with the support of the international community, collapsed under the Taliban’s regime. This so-called regime, led primarily by Taliban police forces, is characterized by cruelty, incompetence, and hostility, particularly toward women and minorities. In response to this crisis, the Vienna Process emerged as a vital platform for Afghan democrats in exile. Its roots trace back to the Austrian Relief Committee for Afghanistan (ARC), which from 1980 to 1994 supported numerous humanitarian projects for Afghans in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. This longstanding commitment to Afghan welfare provided the foundation for the Vienna Process initiative.
Key figures in the creation of the Vienna Process include Mr. Nur Safa, an Afghan-born former Austrian diplomat and coordinator of the ARC in Pakistan, and his wife, Ms. Fahima Zahma, a human rights activist. They were joined by Professor Christian Reder, former head of the ARC, who had been actively involved in Afghan affairs for over 45 years and had authored books such as Afghanistan Fragmented and Noch Jahre der Unruhe, (More years of unrest) on the history of Afghanistan. Their collective experience and passion for Afghan democracy led them to support the Afghan exile community in mobilizing for solutions to the ongoing crisis.