The absence of a local model is a major obstacle to development in Afghanistan / Elites must take action

Afghan Voice News Agency (AVA) - Tehran: A scientific meeting on the topic of "Afghanistan and Development Strategies" was held on Saturday afternoon, April 20, with the participation of a group of university professors, students, and scientific and cultural activists, including the head of the Tebyan Center for Social and Cultural Activities in Tehran, by the Afghan Students Cultural Center of Kharazmi University in Tehran, in cooperation with the cultural office of this university.

Dr. Aminian: One of the important obstacles to development in Afghanistan is the lack of a local model
During the meeting, Dr. Bahadur Aminian, former ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Afghanistan, referring to Afghanistan's potential capacities in the fields of agriculture, natural resources, and geopolitical location, stated: "Afghanistan has great potential for economic leap, provided that its leaders act with a rational approach. We need to design an economic corridor in which Iran can play a vital role."

According to Aminian, this economic corridor can pass through Iran, pass through the central regions of Afghanistan, and connect to China. He described this route not only as a way to transport goods, but also as a platform for the development of industrial centers, agriculture, and the extraction of mineral resources.
The former Iranian ambassador to Kabul emphasized the importance of infrastructure on this route and said: "Afghanistan is sitting on a treasure trove of minerals; but due to the lack of communication, energy, and appropriate investment infrastructure, these resources have remained unused. If the groundwork is provided, just one of Afghanistan's large iron ore mines, located near the Iranian border, can change the economic equations of the region."

He considered one of the major obstacles to development in Afghanistan to be the lack of a local development model, and said: "All the plans that have entered Afghanistan from abroad have failed. Afghan elites must take action themselves and design and implement a local development model based on domestic capacities."

At the same time, emphasizing the key role of the inclusive government, Aminian considered the development of Afghanistan to be dependent on the formation of a powerful and national government: "Until a powerful and inclusive government is formed in Afghanistan, the nation-building project in this country will not be completed. This fundamental prerequisite is the basic condition for Afghanistan to overcome the cycle of crisis and achieve stability and development."

Dr. Norouzi: Development cannot be an imported version
Following this scientific meeting, Dr. Mojtaba Norouzi, a university professor and expert on Afghan issues, explained the cultural and mental roots of the backwardness of development in Afghanistan in his speech.
At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Norouzi emphasized that development, before it depends on financial resources, plans, and ideas, requires the formation of a mental and cultural infrastructure among the elites of society. Referring to the experience of countries in the region, including Iran, he added: “In Iran, there are dozens of scientific and theoretical experiences about development, but in Afghanistan, this issue has not yet become an institutional concern in the elite space.”
Criticizing the lack of development discourse in the Afghan academic space, he added: “Even among Afghan students studying in Iran, if they are asked about the most important issues of the country, development is usually placed in lower priorities.”
Dr. Norouzi went on to list three main cultural and mental obstacles to development:
1. Lack of serious elite dialogue about development
2. Lack of understanding of the need for development as a national priority
3. Lack of theoretical agreement among elites about the pillars and model of development appropriate for Afghanistan

He also emphasized that development cannot be an imported version and that its realization requires “discovering the problem from within the society” and “responding appropriately to local conditions.” According to him, relying solely on external models, without considering internal strengths and cultural contexts, is not only not beneficial but can also be detrimental.
Referring to the role of young Afghan elites in shaping the indigenous development model, the university professor invited the students present at the meeting to think, write, and expand the development discourse, saying: “As long as development is not an elite issue, no model and no capital will help achieve it.”

Dr. Rashadat: To achieve development in Afghanistan, an internal consensus must first be reached between the elites and the general public
Dr. Amin Rashadat, a university professor, as the third speaker at the scientific conference “Afghanistan and Development Strategies,” delivered a speech about the obstacles to development in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the country.
Dr. Rashadat examined the various social and sociological factors of Afghanistan's underdevelopment and stated that in order to achieve sustainable development, factors such as "social customs and culture", "geography and geographical location", and "political and economic institutions" must be seriously considered. He continued his speech by stating the cultural obstacles to development in Afghanistan, and in particular, he pointed out the tribal and ethnic culture that have directly hindered progress and development in Afghanistan.

He also referred to the concepts and theories of development and emphasized that development in each country must be carried out in accordance with the social, cultural and historical conditions of that society. He added: "To achieve development in Afghanistan, models must be used that are consistent with the social and cultural realities of Afghanistan. Otherwise, the probability of failure of these projects is very high."
In conclusion, the university professor pointed out the need for "internal agreements" and "regional and international agreements" in order to start development projects in Afghanistan and stated: "To achieve development in Afghanistan, there must first be an internal consensus between the elite and the people. Also, cooperation and agreement with regional countries and international institutions are essential."

An effort to better understand one's strengths and weaknesses
Meanwhile, Navid Hussainzada, secretary of the Afghan Students' Cultural Center at Kharazmi University, referring to the activities of this center in an interview with Ava, said: "The Afghan Students' Cultural Center has been operating at Kharazmi University with more than 400 active members since 2008, and its main goal is to create a scientific, research, and capacity-building environment for Afghan students."

He pointed to some of the center’s executive programs and said: “We have held language, art, and photography classes, and through scientific meetings like this program, we are seeking to analyze existing challenges and provide practical and humane solutions to improve the conditions.”

Mohammad Hashim Amiri, the center’s public relations officer, also stated in an interview with Ava that the purpose of holding this meeting was to examine the factors of success and failure in the development process of Afghanistan. He said: “Afghanistan has faced numerous challenges throughout its history. Our effort is to provide a basis for a deeper analysis and understanding of the current conditions by better understanding our weaknesses and strengths.”