Traditional assembly may be extended for a day

KABUL could be extended, an official indicated on Friday.

Forty committees have been set up to deliberate on political, economic and military aspects of the strategic cooperation deal with the United States and setting up a mechanism for dialogue with the Taliban fighters.

The traditional tribal assembly debated the reconciliation campaign on its third day, but could not reach a consensus on the issue, a spokeswoman for the jirga told reporters.

Safia Siddiqui said the event would conclude on schedule if delegates reached an agreement on Saturday. But the gathering could be extended if differences remained.

She said the participants conferred on different aspects of the peace drive, talks with neighbours in this regard, ways of stabilising the country and the need for a distinction between the Taliban and saboteurs.

The members also raised objections to the High Peace Council‘s composition, she said. Any amendment to the mechanism for parleys with militants would lead to changes in the council’s structure, the spokeswoman explained.  

Council Secretary Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai collected from committee heads recommendations from participants regarding the peace process, she continued. Each committee has two women members.

Most of the attendees suggested Americans should continue to train and equip Afghan security forces as part of the strategic agreement, Safia said.

Afghanistan would have the right to declare the agreement null and void if the conditions set by the Karzai government were not met, she concluded.

ma/mud

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