From 19 to 22 October 2022, the Afghanistan Legal Research Network brought together dozens of Afghan scholars in hosting the network’s first hybrid academic conference. Spanning three days, the conference provided Afghan lawyers, judges, public servants, and researchers of various backgrounds the opportunity to present their individual contributions on one of nine panels on which an expert discussant sat. The presented papers spanned the theoretical gamut—covering issues such as the principle of complementarity as applied to the Afghanistan Situation at the International Criminal Court and the revival of the muhtasib under the Taliban de facto authorities’ new regime. The communicated perspectives were equally as diverse, with Afghan scholars shedding light on Afghanistan’s recent transformation from legal, political, cultural, and theological perspectives.

At the end of the conference, the ALRN scientific committee evaluated and selected papers for publication in the cited volume. Some of these papers discern broader trends, while others focus on personal insights gained as witnesses to Afghanistan’s legal reforms. All equally evince the desire of individual Afghans to live self-determined, dignified lives—protected by constitutional safeguards, empowered by democratic participation, and assured of a durable peace.