No participation in BSA Loya Jirga: HIA

KABUL on a security pact with the US.

A day earlier, Loya Jirga Preparatory Commission official Sadiq Mudabbir said that the HIA had agreed to participate in the Nov. 21 tribal assembly on the Bilateral Security Agreement between Kabul and Washington.

But Dr. Ghairat Baheer, in charge of HIA’s political affairs, told Pajhwok Afghan News his party — the second largest Afghan militant group behind the Taliban.

“In principle, we are against the composition of such gatherings because they lack public representation,” argued Dr. Baheer.

He said all aspects of the security deal with the US had been finalised and a decision in this regard had taken, believing the Loya Jirga was being used as a rubber stamp.

Baheer said they had been invited to the jirga, something they had never sought. “It runs counter to our political stance to participate in jirgas which are in conflict with the country’s independence and sovereignty.”

On the other hand, the consultative jirga commission’s spokesman, Abdul Khaliq Hussaini Pashai, also claimed a 15-member HIA delegation would attend the forum. He told Pajhwok the HIA representatives would express their views at the assembly.

The Taliban have also been asked to attend the jirga, according to Pashai, who said the list of invitees had been finalised.

ma/mud

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