ISLAMABAD, March 10: The first meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Jirga Commission could not be held according to schedule on Saturday after the Afghan delegation’s arrival was delayed.

Interior ministry sources said that the meeting would now be held on March 12, adding that the Afghan delegation was likely to arrive here on Sunday.

The first meeting of the Jirga had been called to address crucial issues, including a reported plan of Nato force to strike inside Pakistan.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, who is the head of Pakistan’s Jirga Commission, will lead the commission along with his Afghan counterpart Syed Ahmed Gillani. NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Muhamad Jan Aurakzai and Governor Balochistan Owais Ghani will also attend the meeting.

The source said there were fears that the basic purpose of the joint Jirga could be affected if the there were Nato strikes in Pakistan’s territory.

The Afghan Jirga has 18 members and 10 of them were visiting Pakistan for three days to hold the joint Jirga commission.