Pakistan-Afghanistan peace jirga begins amid tight security

A three-day Pakistan-Afghanistan peace jirga or tribal council on combating the Taleban has begun here, though President Pervez Musharraf has pulled out citing other national commitments.

Kabul, Aug.9 : A three-day Pakistan-Afghanistan "peace jirga" or tribal council on combating the Taleban has begun here, though President Pervez Musharraf has pulled out citing other national commitments.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai opened the jirga, saying it had brought together "brother nations".

Up to 700 tribal elders, clerics and leaders of both countries have been invited.

The Taleban and tribal elders from Pakistan's North and South Waziristan have opted to boycott the moot.

Pakistani and Afghan tribal leaders gathered in the huge tent at Kabul's Bagh-i-Bala, where the meeting is taking place.

"We are very proud today that this peace jirga has brought two countries, two brothers, two close neighbours together. There is no doubt this jirga will be successful," Karzai said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has assured Karzai of his "full support" towards making the jirga a success. Kabul, however, expressed disappointment over Musharraf's decision not to attend, saying he would have made a significant contribution.

Pakistan and Afghanistan Thursday agreed to continue joint efforts for resolution of disputes and security of the border areas.

Aziz in his opening address termed the allegations of supporting Taliban against Pakistan as baseless and added that his country doesn't want control over Afghanistan.

Karzai in his address said foreign enemies are destroying peace in Afghanistan.

Aziz said that both countries want to remove mutual distrust and misgivings to promote peace and stability as well as enhancing mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.

He said that Taliban are Afghan nationals, which are promoting Talibanization in the region. Pakistani premier said existing situation in Afghanistan has triggered extremism, terrorism and militancy in Pakistan. He called for joint Pak-Afghan efforts to curb the menace.

He hoped that the ongoing Pak-Afghan jirga would help both countries to promote peace and stability in the region.

Karzai in his address said his government is prepared for dialogue with such Taliban leaders who had left the country due to the government's steps or fear of the NATO forces.

He said terrorists involved in heinous acts in Pakistan and Afghanistan are enemies of both countries and they should be brought to justice according to the law.

He said Talibanization after emergence in Afghanistan has reached to Peshawar and than Lal Masjid through the tribal areas. He said suicide attacks and killings are bringing bad name to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said happenings in Afghanistan have no roots in the country; they are foreign enemies, which are destroying peace in Afghanistan.

The idea of a joint Afghan-Pakistan peace jirga was first suggested by Karzai during talks with US President George W Bush in September.

In October, President Karzai said he saw the jirga as an attempt to revive Pashtun civil society on both sides of the border, to combat what he called the growing "Talebanisation" of the region.

Jirgas are a traditional method of decision-making and dispute-resolution. The Taleban have denounced the jirga, calling the process "George Bush's initiative".

ANI