US persuading Musharraf to attend Kabul Jirga

The US is trying its best to persuade Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to attend the Kabul Jirga that is taking place from today.

Washington, Aug 9 : The US is trying its best to persuade Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to attend the Kabul Jirga that is taking place from today.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack has indicated that there's still a possibility that the Musharraf may attend the jirga initiated by US President George W Bush.

"President Musharraf certainly wouldn't stay back in Islamabad if he didn't believe he had good and compelling reasons to stay back,'' McCormack told reporters.

"The Pakistani Prime Minister has decided to attend. It is an important initiative and we'll see if President Musharraf is able to attend some portion of the meeting," the Dawn quoted him, as saying.

"We'll see what happens. At the end of the day, what is important is that the meeting produces some results," he added.

Washington Diplomatic sources said that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai had asked Musharraf to reconsider his decision to boycott the jirga.

Bush or Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has telephoned Musharraf to encourage him to attend the jirga, added the source.

Musharraf's decision indicated his annoyance with a change in the US government officials and lawmakers that have launched a stream of scathing attacks on him.

ANI