The 2025 ALPA Annual Conference was held on October 3 and 4 at the University of Pittsburgh. Titled “Taliban and Alternatives: Religion, Governance, and Society,” the conference stood out as the largest academic gathering on Afghanistan held outside the country. With close to one hundred presenters and over one hundred attendees participating in person and virtually, the event became a vibrant space for exchange, collaboration, and intellectual renewal at a time when academic freedom within Afghanistan remains under severe pressure.

 Theme of the Conference: Taliban and Alternatives: Religion, Governance, and Society

This year, ALPA chose not to announce a central conference theme until late into the planning process. This strategic decision encouraged a broader range of submissions, welcoming contributions not only from law and political science but also from disciplines such as history, education, gender studies, economics, and the arts. The result was a richer, more inclusive dialogue that reflected the interdisciplinary urgency of Afghanistan’s current challenges.

        New Features & Developments

This year’s conference introduced several new features. A research and publication workshop featured editors from the Afghanistan Journal, ALPA Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Khana-e-Maulana, offering practical guidance to scholars. Two book talks were hosted—one on the Farsi translation of Global International Relations and another on Power and Authority in Afghanistan. A high-level plenary featured scholars like Thomas Barfield and Nazif Shahrani. Research Committees also held in-person meetings to plan for the coming year.

A major highlight was the soft launch of the ALPA Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, a multilingual platform prioritizing publications in Farsi and Pashto. ALPA also revived its exhibition space, displaying over 100 publications and original artwork submitted by Afghan women inside the country. The exhibit was moving and well-received.

ALPA continued its tradition of awards. Dr. Haroun Rahimi won Best Book; Drs. Rajab Taeib, Zabi Obaidy, and Mahir Hazem won Best Article. The newly launched Jon Eddy Awards recognized Sayed Ashraf Muzafari for Excellence in Teaching and Geety Haidary and Fatima Moqada for Civic Excellence, with each recipient receiving $100 and a certificate.