Global Friends of Afghanistan, together with the Max Planck Foundation, convened the Afghanistan Dialogue Conference at Heidelberg University’s South Asia Institute (29–30 August 2025). Bringing together over 40 diverse Afghan voices from civil society, law, human rights, and security, the conference created a rare Afghan-led space for open dialogue on governance and the rule of law. Participants worked on shared principles, mapped more than 60 initiatives active on Afghanistan, and explored ways to strengthen coordination and trust. The event also provided an opportunity to present Afghan perspectives directly to international actors, including UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett — marking a key step toward building more inclusive, coordinated, and principled engagement on Afghanistan’s future.