Date: February, 2020

The Doha Accords, signed between the U.S. and the Taliban, established a framework for peace in Afghanistan by outlining key commitments such as the withdrawal of U.S. forces and counterterrorism assurances from the Taliban. While these accords laid the groundwork for future negotiations, including intra-Afghan dialogue, the agreement itself faced significant criticism for not addressing human rights or the role of Afghan civil society. The Vienna Process builds on this foundation by extending the dialogue to include a broader range of Afghan voices, especially those marginalized in the Doha talks, such as women, civil society groups, and opposition factions. The Vienna Process aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable political settlement that the Doha Accords could not achieve alone.