September 03, 2007	Monday	Sha'aban 20, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: Pakistan and Afghanistan have finalised the names of 50 members of a tribal council from their Joint Jirga Commission to hold talks with the Taliban leadership for restoration of peace in both countries, interior ministry sources told Dawn on Sunday.

The sources said that 25 members had been selected from each side for the talks and they would soon hold talks with the Taliban leadership.

When contacted, interior ministry spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said that talks with Taliban would be held soon, but declined to say when. He also declined to say anything about the agenda and venue of the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Taliban are reported to have rejected the jirga and its proposal for talks and reiterated their demand for all foreign troops to leave Afghanistan.

Tribal elders from Jamrud, Bara and Landi Kotal tehsils of the Khyber Agency have reportedly offered their services for direct talks with Taliban leaders both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Tribal leader Malik Ahmad Khan, who was also a member of the Kabul Peace jirga, said if the government of Pakistan could hold talks with India to resolve the Kashmir issue, why it could not launch a dialogue process with the Taliban.

Expressing satisfaction at the outcome of the Kabul jirga, he urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to continue the process.

He told mediapersons that at least 50 elders of the Khyber Agency were ready to open talks with the Taliban leadership.

Another tribal leader, Malik Guli Shah, said that the tribal people wanted peace in their region and Afghanistan and, therefore, there was no harm in initiating a dialogue with the Taliban leadership.