Peace Jirga to draw red lines for talks with Taliban: Ghani

KABUL.

In his welcome address to the rare traditional gathering in Kabul, the president said it were the ordinary people who paid the price for peace not political elites.

Thousands of tribal and community elders are taking part in the mammoth gathering that was kicked off amid tight security measures to discuss ways of reaching a lasting peace and end the country’s decades-old war.

Mor than 3,000 participants and 300 guests, including foreign envoys, government ministers and other high ranking officials are taking part in the gathering.

Of former jihadi leaders, Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, Zabihullah Mujadidi, Qutubddin Helal and Qazi Amin Waqad were in attendance.

“Your government would formulate the policy of peace talks on the basis of the views and suggestions from all you gathered here at this national gathering,” Ghani said.

He believed the Loya Jirga --- a centuries old practice --- would facilitate the voices of people and seek their views on issues of national interest.

“I know this nation has no more patience for stability and defense of the country, but being a servant of the country, I also know the price the families involved in this fight have been paying.”

The president said peace had become a national debate during the past two years among the masses but this Jirga was an opportunity to bring public representatives under a single platform.

“We with unprecedented strategies referred to neighbouring countries particularly Pakistan could become your good friend but would never enter an unequal partnership,” Ghani said.

In the past four years, global view regarding peace and reconciliation had changed and for the first time the Imams of Mecca issued fatwas against violence and killings in Afghanistan and thus a political, regional and international consensus for peace was developed, the president continued.

He reiterated this Jirga would decide the framework and conditions for peace negotiations with the Taliban and the peace process would begin from this event.

nh/ma