ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan hopes to receive the Afghan proposal on peace jirgas through diplomatic channels this week after which the modalities would be discussed between the two sides through political channels.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri during his visit to Kabul on Friday handed over a two-page proposal to his Afghan counterpart Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta on the proposed jirgas. Apparently during the formal talks the two sides also had exhaustive and intense discussions on it, diplomatic sources said.
The jirga proposal was discussed at length during Mr Kasuri’s two-hour meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, four-hour talks with Dr Spanta and one-hour interaction with Yunas Qanooni, it is learnt.
“It was conveyed to the Afghan side that Pakistan planned to do in South Waziristan what it had done in North Waziristan and we suggested that the Afghan government consider doing the same at their end,” an informed source said.
Mr Kasuri, while emphasising that the plan would be local, offered to extend any assistance that the Afghan side may require from Pakistan in this regard.
“We suggested that initially we hold jirgas on both sides and as we go along it could culminate in a gathering in Islamabad and Kabul,” a government source said and explained: “The jirga in Kabul which would be addressed by President Karzai be also addressed by President Musharraf as the guest and our gathering of notables in Islamabad which would be addressed by President Musharraf also be addressed by the Afghan President.”
It was agreed that Pakistan’s point-man on the jirga question, NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai and the Afghanistan’s point-man Pir Geelani, chairman of the Afghan Jirga Commission, would be in touch with each other to work out the modalities. Also, discussions would continue through diplomatic channels involving embassies of the two countries.
Asked if Pakistan had proposed participation of the Taliban in its ‘gatherings’ or suggested it to the Afghan side, a senior official said it was a bit too early for that, adding: “Initially, we are looking at the local level. We will cross the bridge as we come to it.”
