Pakistan and Afghanistan, after deciding to accelerate the peace process, have constituted a committee of prominent individuals, which would initiate contacts with opposition groups in both countries.
However, apparently for reasons of sensitivity, the names of these individuals and their activities would not be made public. The next meeting of the Jirgagai would be held after 2-3 months in Kabul.
This significant step of contacting militants for dialogue was highlighted in the Islamabad Declaration at the end of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Jirgagai on Tuesday. A 12-point declaration was announced at a joint press conference addressed by the leader of Pakistan’s delegation, NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, and former Afghan foreign minister and the head of the Afghan side of the Jirga, Dr Abdullah Abdullah.
The declaration says: “Both sides would emphasise the urgent and imperative need of dialogue and negotiations with the opposition groups in both countries with a view to finding a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict, and upholding the supremacy of the constitutions of both countries. The Jirgagai (mini Jirga) decided to authorise the two chairmen to nominate members of such committee and its contact groups. This committee will also make recommendations to the governments, with a view to denying sanctuaries to terrorists and subversive elements in both countries.”
The declaration comes at a time when neither country has any kind of control over certain areas on their borders, where countless groups are operating against the two governments. Included in the “opposition” are also locals on both sides of the border who consider those taking military actions in their areas as their “enemies”.
But it was Abdullah who tried to dispel the pessimism on the complexity of the situation. “The Jirga is a unique institution and has its own role. This is another opportunity as I know the sentiments of those who participated. We should not undermine this Jirgagai. In fact, we have opened the door wider,” he told the media.
To a question as to how these “opponents” would be described, Ghani said it included all who were involved in terrorism while Abdullah said, “We will talk to all those who uphold the supremacy of the constitutions of both countries. This is non-negotiable. Sanctuaries on both sides have to be destroyed and we have recommended this to our two governments.”
The declaration, while making note of the two democratic neighbours, noted, “We recognise that with fully functional democracies, having vibrant institutions in both countries, the pace of cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan had gathered momentum and prospects of peace and progress had brightened.”
In recognition of the unanimous resolution passed by Pakistan’s joint sitting, the declaration noted that, “Regard the recent consensus resolution passed at the conclusion of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on October 22, 2008 as a positive step supporting the cause for which the Jirgagai was established”.
A second committee would also be constituted, which would comprise members from both sides to oversee implementation of the decisions of the joint peace Jirga in other areas of mutual cooperation including strengthening relations between both brotherly countries, undertaking economic development activities on trade, transport and transit, parliamentary, cultural, educational and sports exchanges, working together to counter the cultivation, processing and trafficking of illicit drugs.
Taking advantage of the Jirgagai, the Afghan parliament sent it a message, asking the Pakistani authorities to look into the missing Afghan ambassador-designate to Pakistan who had been kidnapped from Peshawar.
Dr Abdullah, when questioned, said that they had passed this message from their parliament to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry. “We have been assured that no effort would be spared and he would be recovered soon. When I meet President Zardari tonight, I will once again raise this issue as it is a very major issue, linked to the issue of security,” he replied.
APP adds: Talking to a private television channel, the chief of Afghan delegation for Jirgagai Abdullah Abdullah appreciated efforts of Pakistan in fostering bilateral relations. He said President Hamid Karzai was hopeful that the Jirga meeting would prove fruitful.
He termed the beginning of the implementation of the recommendations of joint peace Jirga that took place from August 9 to 12 in Kabul as a positive development. About the delay in holding the Jirga, he said, “It was the joint Jirga and neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan could take unilateral decisions. We were waiting for the Jirgagai to be completed. We will begin practical implementation of the Jirga decisions from today.”
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