Rival Kunar families turn friends: Wafa

KABUL):  A years-long enmity between two influential families turned into friendship in eastern Kunar province, the Commission on Tribal Disputes Resolution at the Presidential Palace said on Thursday.

The rivalry between families of Haji Malak Zarin and Haji Tor Khan in the Dangam district began few years ago when Zarin was killed along with 14 others in a gun attack that the deceased family members suspected Khan being behind it.

Assadullah Wafa, the commission head, after returning from a successful mediation between the two families, told reporters the issue had been resolved.

Wafa, who headed a delegation from Kabul, said tribal elders in Kunar and those coming all the way from neighbouring Nangarhar province had assisted the delegation in the resolution process.

He said they met with members of both families and stressed they should end their dispute and instead turn it into friendship.

“Our delegation in cooperation with tribal elders has been able to broker truce between Malak Zarin and Tor Khan families and end their rivalry for forever.”

Both families thanked the jirga members and promised to respect and abide by the jirga’s decision.

Wafa said both families vowed they would not allow any of their members to create problems.

He said Malak Zarin family had a dispute with another family as well and they were trying to resolve that problem.

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