Jirga wants army, armed groups to leave tribal belt

KABUL (Pajhwok): A well-attended Pakhtun jirga, featuring political figures from different parties, has asked the Pakistani army and armed groups to leave the former tribal belt within two months.

Addressing the concluding session of the three-day assembly in Jamrud on Sunday evening, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen also proposed the resumption of movement across the Durand Line without passports and visas.

On Sunday night, the PTM leader told the attendees delegates had decided that within two months, the Pakistan army, TTP and ISIS must withdraw from the Pakhtun-inhabited territory.

The BBC quoted him as warning: “If the forces that disrupt peace do not leave, the jirga will arrange how to expel those fuelling conflict in our homeland.”

Pashteen said: "The jirga has decided all crossings and trade points along the Durand Line will revert to the rules from 1983 to 2010 that allow Pashtun Afghans to move freely without passports and visas."

According to him, if this decision is not implemented, the jirga will stage a sit-in in front of customs/revenue collection offices on the Durand Line and will close them.

The outspoken PTM chief emphasised on the reconstruction of the homes of displaced people to facilitate their return and the release of all political prisoners including Pakhtuns.

He also urged the interim government of Afghanistan to allow girls to pursue education. He also called for the immediate reopening of trade routes.

The jirga decided to form a special body to address tribal disputes and sort out differences among the Pashtuns. Jirga members will travel to all districts, particularly to Kurram district, to make decisions on a ceasefire.

Pashteen highlighted the economic potential of the Pashtun region in Pakistan, emphasising on its contribution to hydel power generation.

He demanded the Pashtun areas, being significant contributors to the national grid, should be supplied electricity at a subsidised rate of five rupees per unit.

"The jirga decided representatives will come together to plead the cases of artyrs of this land, the missing persons and the territory that has been seized. Together, they will plead for them in international and local courts."

In order to implement the decisions of the jirga, 3,000 unarmed young men from each area and each party will be mobilised, totaling 240,000, to seek peaceful solutions to their issues.

The assembly also decided to form a committee of 80 people, representing all areas, to gather information about natural resources. They will allow the extraction of resources that benefit the nation.

sa/mud