ISLAMABAD: After a flurry of ‘telephone diplomacy’ between Islamabad, Washington and Kabul, President Gen Pervez Musharraf has agreed to attend the concluding session of the Joint Peace Jirga in Afghanistan.

The president conveyed his consent to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday evening when the latter telephoned him and invited him to the jirga’s closing session.

A brief statement issued by the Foreign Office said President Karzai telephoned President Musharraf on Friday evening and invited him to attend the closing session of the Joint Peace Jirga.

“President Karzai said that the president’s personal participation would be a source of support and encouragement for the jirga process. The president agreed in principle to address the closing session of the Joint Peace Jirga,” the statement said.

It is not clear at this point when the president would travel to Kabul as the three-day jirga, which started on Thursday, has been extended.