In the era of new waves of democratization, Afghanistan cannot return to a form of political system and government other than democracy. After the fall of Taliban regime in late 2001, the country opted for democratic system and process to manage the differences and diversity that exist in this territorial part of the world, and serve its people. Almost ten years have elapsed but daunting problems and challenges persist, posing serious threats to the future course of peace in the country.

In fact, Afghanistan is catapulted into a new complex situation that requires prudent leadership to continue to make the country more democratic to accommodate the interests of all different political groups. In fact, the current problems are not down to democratization process; they rather stem from insufficient democracy and inefficiency on the part of the government and those who rule the country.

Problems range from the corruption in the government to absence of good governance and rule of law. One can therefore say that Afghanistan is going through a very critical juncture. International community has begun withdrawing their forces from the country, while the above-mentioned problems continue to hamper provision of security, economic development and efforts to bring tangible changes to Afghans' life.

This in fact demonstrates a very often-ignored point that the last ten years were wasted due to lack of a prudent leadership, which is very crucial for an emerging democracy. As a result both international community and Afghans are concerned about the reversal of the whole achievements made over the last ten years of joint struggle and international assistance.

Both Afghan and international actors are engaged in a process of exchanges of views in different fashions on how to maintain the progresses made and in the meanwhile move forward the democratic process in Afghanistan in order to make sure that the country does not descend into another cycle of chaos and ethnic conflicts .

As part of this effort, this week, the Aspen Institute brought together anti-Taliban leaders in Berlin, Germany to discuss Afghanistan 2014: Opportunities and Challenges. This is part of the broader process of exchange of views that is going on at different state and not-state, regional and international levels on ways out of the ongoing stalemate in the war against terrorists and insurgent groups and how to reduce the potential for outbreak of further conflicts.

But unfortunately there are some circles inside and outside the government that take these discussions and opinion sharing wrongly. For instance, the discussion on Afghanistan 2014: Opportunities and Challenges held by the Aspen Institute is being construed and interpreted by some circles supported by president Karzai as an attempt by the Berlin conference participants to damage national unity.

Unfortunately, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been following a very passive diplomacy and on several occasions failed to react to the intrusions by the neighbors or to the behaviors and actions that jeopardize the interests of our nation, has also issued a statement calling this exchange of view as against national unity and Afghan constitution.

In order to prove the baselessness of these statements and remarks, I would have an analytical look at the outcome of this forum that served as an opportunity for the participants to look into the political system and government critically and exchange their views on how to chart out a better form of democracy in the country that can better keep the nation together by devolving power to people and bringing them back into the processes of decision-making and setting policy agenda.

The joint statement released by the participants, including Mr. Ahmed Zia Massoud, head of National Front, General Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, the leader of People´s Unity Party of Afghanistan, AmrullahSaleh, the former director of Afghan National Security Directorate from Afghanistan and Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-California), Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-California), Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) from the US, reads, "The current system has fatally concentrated decision-making to whoever is President of the country. The Afghan President appoints the governors of each province and district, the mayor of every town, every provincial chief of police, one third of the entire Senate, and even every judge in Afghanistan."

The statement also outlines the dire consequence of this centralized power structure by stating," This centralized power has led to massive corruption, disenfranchisement of a large segment of the Afghan people, obstacles to economic development, massive abuses of power, increasing political instability, poor governance, and a vast undermining of law and order."

Problems such as widespread corruption, massive abuses of power, absence of good governance and rule of law are felt by all Afghan people as they know that their country is ranked as the second most corrupt one in the whole world. In fact, these are the real sources of frustration for the people.

If one wants to behave like president Karzai, they can easily and shamelessly blame international community or other stakeholders for these problems but if we want to see things as they are in reality, then we will come to the conclusion that it is a corrupt government, which is based on a dysfunctional political system, that has led to these now intractable challenges.

The joint statement further reads, "We call for a national dialogue on a revised Constitution to correct the inherent flaws in the present power structure by decentralizing the political system, making it more compatible with the diverse political, social and cultural nature of Afghanistan. The Afghan people deserve and need a parliamentary form of democracy instead of a personality-centered Presidential system."

It is not clear to us why those who reacted to the Berlin conference fear a national dialogue that should be launched to address the flaws in the power structure and come up with a more polished representative one to serve the interests of the whole nation, not only the interests of those who ascend to power and run a corrupt government.

The statement adds, "In order to speed the withdrawal of international forces, the participants believe it is essential to strengthen regional and national institutions that are inclusive and represent the concerns of all the communities of Afghanistan."

Again it is not clear why Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other circles supported by Karzai's government show an unfounded reaction to the call for strengthening of regional and national institutions that can better represent the concerns of all communities of Afghanistan.

Having gone through this statement, it becomes evident that the only motive these exaggerated reactions is this that a more inclusive power structure brings in people and leaves little room for kleptocrats to continue to run a corrupt government. So a conference on solutions for the current deadlock is not against the constitution.

President Karzai's cases of violation of the constitution such as establishing a special tribunal and putting the three branches of government into a political crisis for a year are known to all. It is the centralization of power that has served as a potential for president Karzai to put his self-interests ahead of the constitution. Berlin Conference is to address this potential.