The recent meeting in Berlin, Germany, organized by the Aspen Institute, which brought together a number of prominent Afghan leaders, has drawn harsh criticism from the government of Afghanistan. The meeting, named Afghanistan 2014: Opportunities and Challenges, in actuality, was a platform for exchange of ideas and discussing the current situation in Afghanistan in the lead-up to 2014.

The outcome of the meeting, as reflected in a press release issued by the delegates, revolved around the issue of de-centralization of power within the structure of the state in Afghanistan as well as the ongoing talks with the Taliban. This is, obviously, a very important imperative in the current context of Afghanistan and, as rightly pointed out in the press release, a major source of the crisis that Afghanistan is in today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul issued a statement barely hiding its condemnation of the meeting and arbitrarily demanded that "such actions should not be repeated" in the future. While the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is clearly an overreaction to the whole issue, once again it lays bare the incapacity and incapability of the government of Afghanistan to be receptive of constructive and fair criticism and suggestions and its inability to distinguish between what is right and wrong at the current juncture.

The government, as evident in its reaction, has viewed the meeting, its deliberations and the outcome as some sort of a dark conspiracy against itself and Afghanistan. The government's statement mentions that the "participation of a number of particular leaders" and the "sudden beatings on the drum of federalism" are in themselves enough indications that what is going on is a conspiracy to divide and break up the country. To be realistic, this sense of desperate paranoia of the government is indeed ridiculous.

What further exposes government's sheer mismanagement and disarray is its allegations that the meeting in Berlin supported federalism. In reality and as documented in the press release, the meeting stresses the need for parliamentary democracy in the country and not federalism. Apparently, no one in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs even cared to read the press release which was widely circulated in foreign media.

The nature of the meeting in Berlin organized by the Aspen Institute was one of discussion and deliberation. There has been no harm in inviting a number of prominent leaders from the Afghan society. The fact that the majority of these leaders happened to be from the erstwhile Northern Alliance should be a clear-enough indication for the government that a significant majority of Afghans and Afghan leaders are deeply unsatisfied with the current dysfunctional system in the country. It is a major characteristic of authoritarian and un-democratic countries to be deeply paranoid and suspicious of even the slightest of opposition.

The government of Afghanistan, instead of positively dealing with the issue and welcoming any constructive suggestions, frowns upon them and this is, as history has repeatedly shown, a great leap towards decline and eventual destruction as the contemporary history of Afghanistan stands as a testimony.

The country remains mired in myriad crises that are laying siege on it from every direction. In such precarious circumstances, the government of Afghanistan, instead of welcoming any positive contribution from major political leaders of Afghanistan that might be able to offer a new vision and alternative ways out the current deadlock, tries to stifle these voices. If anything, the statement of the government of Afghanistan only lays bare the clear need to drastically reform the system or wait for some disastrous consequences including the threat of a re-Talibanization of Afghanistan.

The outcome of the meeting in Berlin is nothing new; it has only thrown light on an issue that has long been the need of Afghanistan. The press release issued by the delegates says thus: "Our concern is that the present political system is dysfunctional because all the power is centralized in a way that no American would tolerate in the United States.

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…

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." What the delegates in the meeting have emphasized on as explained in this press release, are plain and obvious for all to see.

As I had earlier explained in my three-article series titled "Towards a New Paradigm – Reforming the State in Afghanistan" the overly centralized structure of power, authority and decision making has largely contributed to a dysfunctional system that is increasingly falling short of the needs of today's Afghanistan. It stifles and blocks innovation, initiative, new vision and thoughts and insists on pressing ahead with a failed model that has repeatedly and consistently failed to deliver over the past one hundred years.

The press release in another section reads thus: "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." What is evident in the present circumstances is the desperate need for empowering communities to implement good and fair governance and to put an end to this exclusive nature of politics that disenfranchises people and communities and works as a major roadblock to economic development in the country.

The government of Afghanistan should, as a national and moral obligation, take heed of such calls that are aimed at being constructive, and try to prevent the country from going even deeper into crisis. The government, by shutting its eyes and ears to the realities of today's Afghanistan, will only steer the country towards more crisis and chaos.

The political opposition and the international community should take more effective steps to open these eyes and ears and follow up with the unfinished project of building a viable state in Afghanistan while preserving the country's unity and territorial integrity.