KABUL, Aug 11: The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Peace Jirga decided to set up a 40-member committee on Saturday, the day when Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the event as one which would cement the relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
The proposal to set up a body for ensuring implementation of the jirga decisions was floated by a working committee earlier in the day. The meeting was jointly chaired by Pakistan’s Humayun Saifullah Khan (District Nazim of Lakki Marwat) and Pir Syed Hamid Gilani, representing Afghanistan.
The special committee will comprise 20 members each from the two countries. They will be selected by their respective governments. It will make periodical review of the implementation of recommendations to be finalised in the light of the jirga’s seven-point agenda. The committee will meet once a month.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party president Mehmud Khan Achakzai, Pakistan Mazdoor Kissan Party president Afzal Khamoosh, former senator and PML leader Nisar Mohammad Khan, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and Afghan leaders spoke at the meeting.
They praised decisions taken by the working committee, expressing the hope that it would play a key role in implementing the decisions.
PRESIDENT KARZAI: Speaking at a luncheon arranged for Pakistani delegates, President Karzai said the historic jirga would further cement bilateral relations in every field.
He termed the assembling of leaders from the two countries a good omen for peace and harmony.
Among others, federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Mohammad Afzal Khamoosh, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour and MNA Shahabuddin from Bajaur Agency attended the luncheon.
Mr Karzai welcomed President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s decision to address the concluding session of the jirga on Sunday.
He said such steps would bolster friendly ties between the two neighbours and help establish an atmosphere of trust and harmony. He advocated maximum interaction between the two countries, saying it would help resolve issues in a peaceful manner.
Meanwhile, the jirga met for a third day on Saturday in a closed-door session, a spokesman said.
The delegates are expected to announce a ‘joint strategy’ on the final day of the meeting.
“They’ll meet today and will declare what they decide tomorrow,” a spokesman for the meeting, Asif Nang, said.
The presence of Gen Musharraf would be welcome, he added.—Agencies
