At the "International Security Dialogue Conference" held in Herat on Saturday, representatives from over 30 countries gathered for a two-day meeting to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan and broader regional security issues.
"We want to start a continuous regional process in Herat," said Dr. Daud Moradian, the Director of the Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies. "The goal of this regional process is to regularly reinforce trust building among Afghanistan and other countries in the region and while building trust, we will find solutions for Afghanistan and other countries in the region."
Afghan National Security Advisor, Dr. Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, who was the conference's opening speaker, focused his comments on the threat of terrorism.
"Terrorism is not an Afghan phenomenon but terrorism is a fierce threat that affects all of us," Dr. Spanta said.
He called the Taliban and other groups fighting in the region terrorists and asked the conference participants to speak frankly about the presence of terrorist groups and safe havens outside of Afghanistan.
"Terrorist networks have a global solidarity and coordination and act internationally and even in some instances they are generously supported by the militaries of countries...," Dr. Spanta said.
The peace process was another issue of focus at the conference. Nicholas Haysom, the United Nation's (UN) Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General in Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of peace talks and the process being Afghan-led.
"Peace of course is a difficult question but what we are absolutely committed to is that Afghanistan needs peace," Haysom said. "What is clear is that any peace initiative has to be Afghan led and it has to be between Afghans rather than between Afghans and other people..."
The conference comes just a day before trilateral talks between Afghanistan, the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to be held.