[DAWN] Afghanistan on Monday will convene a rare "loya jirga" ‐ a massive meeting for delegates from across the country to discuss the war and United States efforts to forge a peace deal with the Taliban...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
More than 2,000 people have been invited to gather amid tight security for four days of debate under a large tent in Kabul.
Here is a look at the history of loya jirgas, and what to expect from this one.
WHAT IS A LOYA JIRGA?
A loya jirga ‐ literally "grand assembly" in Pashto ‐ is traditionally comprised of Afghan elders.
Such gatherings have a centuries-old history in Afghan culture and are periodically convened to reach a consensus on major political issues.
The most recent jirga was held in 2013, when Afghan officials endorsed a security agreement that allowed US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond their planned withdrawal in 2014.
In August 2007, the first joint Afghan-Pakistain jirga was held in Kabul after relations between the neighbours deteriorated amid Afghan accusations that Pakistain was harbouring Taliban and al-Qaeda gunnies.
In 2003, former president Sibghatullah Mojaddedi chaired a loya jirga that approved Afghanistan's new constitution for a post-Taliban era.
The events usually comprise political figures, religious scholars, teachers, activists and community leaders. Delegates typically break into smaller groups to tackle various matters.
WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA?
The upcoming loya jirga is being held at a time when the US and Talibs have held several rounds of talks. The two sides have discussed a possible troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a ceasefire and various pledges from the Taliban.
But crucially, the talks have thus far cut out the government of President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. .., whom the Taliban view as a US stooge.
Ghani's government is jostling for influence in the peace talks and the jirga aims to set out Kabul's red lines for any deal, including the continuation of the constitution and the protection of women's rights, the media, and free speech.
Ghani has invited the Taliban to participate, but the turbans, having waged an unrelenting guerrilla war since 2001, have predictably refused.
In the past, the Taliban have blasted rockets at the loya jirga tent, and much of Kabul is being locked down under a massive security operation for this year's event.
In a statement, the Taliban vowed that any decisions or resolutions made at a loya jirga are "never acceptable to the real and devout sons of this homeland".