Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri arrives in Kabul today (Thursday) for talks on tribal councils aimed at stemming the growing Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and putting an end to the worst fighting in that country since the regime was ousted in 2001. The foreign ministerÂ’s visit comes amid accusations from senior Afghan intelligence officials that Islamabad still supports the Taliban and warnings from KabulÂ’s western allies that the insurgents are being bolstered by the ability to shelter in Pakistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed on holding jirgas of community leaders from each country to find a solution to the ongoing violence. “We hope that the real representatives from across Pakistan will take part in the (Afghan) jirga,” said Karim Rahimi, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Afghanistan wants all tribes to take part in the councils, not just the Pashtuns from the main Pakistani border areas.
And bring your drums!
“But still there is a big gap on positions of the two governments on jirgas and other issues,” according to Rahimullah Yusufzai, a newspaper editor and expert on Afghan affairs. “Pakistanis want more restricted jirgas that should include local tribal elders while Afghans are interested in broad-based gathering including parliamentarians, local councillors, representatives of civil society and NGOs,” he said, adding that it was not easy to bridge this gap.