ID :
26769
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 09:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/26769
The shortlink copeid
Pak-Afghan jirga to discuss ways of engaging Taliban in talks
Islamabad, Oct 26 (PTI) A Pakistan-Afghanistan jirga scheduled to begin here Monday will frame modalities for engaging Taliban and other militants operating in the tribal belt along the border of the two countries, in talks aimed at ending a rapidly spreading insurgency.
The tribal council, known as a jirga gai or "mini-jirga"
as it is the smaller version of a larger council of tribal
elders from the two countries, is a track-II initiative.
It has been billed as the biggest confidence-building
measure since the meeting of the larger jirga in August last
year, which was intensely divided over dealing with terrorism.
The 25-member mini-jirga will discuss ways to enhance
cooperation among tribal elders for peace on both sides of the
border and steps to engage the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban in
talks to restore peace in the tribal belt, which has been
described by the U.S. as a safe haven for Al Qaida.
"So far there have been isolated attempts to broker a
peace, but the significance of the mini-jirga is that it will
try to collectively devise a way for talking to the opponents
– the Taliban and other militant groups – who are involved in
attacks in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan," an
official told the influential Dawn newspaper.
N.W.F.P. Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani will lead the
Pakistani side that includes top tribal leaders like Awami
National Party chief Afandyar Wali Khan.
The Afghan side, to be led by former foreign minister
Abdullah Abdullah, comprises members of the country's National
Assembly and Senate.
Political observers said the involvement of leading
political figures from the two countries adds to the hopes for
a successful outcome of the talks.
But they also pointed to the absence of "real
stakeholders" – none of the leaders of the two sides set to
participate in the mini-jirga represents regions which are the
centres of militancy.
The meeting of the mini-jirga has been delayed by several
months due to the strained relations between Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
The ties took a downturn with the suicide car bomb attack
on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed nearly 60 people,
including two top Indian diplomats.
The mini-jirga is meeting at a time when there is an
increasing realisation among countries contributing troops to
Afghanistan and the Afghan government itself that the Taliban
cannot be defeated by military means alone.
The meeting also follows peace talks between the Taliban
and the Afghan government that were sponsored by Saudi Arabia
at the request of President Hamid Karzai.
The mini-jirga members will frame rules for the next
meeting of the larger jirga to be held in Islamabad. PTI
R.H.L.
RKM
The tribal council, known as a jirga gai or "mini-jirga"
as it is the smaller version of a larger council of tribal
elders from the two countries, is a track-II initiative.
It has been billed as the biggest confidence-building
measure since the meeting of the larger jirga in August last
year, which was intensely divided over dealing with terrorism.
The 25-member mini-jirga will discuss ways to enhance
cooperation among tribal elders for peace on both sides of the
border and steps to engage the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban in
talks to restore peace in the tribal belt, which has been
described by the U.S. as a safe haven for Al Qaida.
"So far there have been isolated attempts to broker a
peace, but the significance of the mini-jirga is that it will
try to collectively devise a way for talking to the opponents
– the Taliban and other militant groups – who are involved in
attacks in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan," an
official told the influential Dawn newspaper.
N.W.F.P. Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani will lead the
Pakistani side that includes top tribal leaders like Awami
National Party chief Afandyar Wali Khan.
The Afghan side, to be led by former foreign minister
Abdullah Abdullah, comprises members of the country's National
Assembly and Senate.
Political observers said the involvement of leading
political figures from the two countries adds to the hopes for
a successful outcome of the talks.
But they also pointed to the absence of "real
stakeholders" – none of the leaders of the two sides set to
participate in the mini-jirga represents regions which are the
centres of militancy.
The meeting of the mini-jirga has been delayed by several
months due to the strained relations between Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
The ties took a downturn with the suicide car bomb attack
on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed nearly 60 people,
including two top Indian diplomats.
The mini-jirga is meeting at a time when there is an
increasing realisation among countries contributing troops to
Afghanistan and the Afghan government itself that the Taliban
cannot be defeated by military means alone.
The meeting also follows peace talks between the Taliban
and the Afghan government that were sponsored by Saudi Arabia
at the request of President Hamid Karzai.
The mini-jirga members will frame rules for the next
meeting of the larger jirga to be held in Islamabad. PTI
R.H.L.
RKM
