H Nawaz Afghan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to send a high level delegation comprising religious leaders, politicians and tribal elders to Afghanistan, seeking support from the Taliban led Interim Afghan government to end the alleged cross-border attacks. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most-affected province by the terrorist incidents.
The Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced to initiate direct peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban. A two-step strategy is devised to involve religious scholars, leaders and senior officials as part of the delegation to visit Kabul to start the peace process. At the second level, intra-tribes or tribes living across the Durand Line will discuss ways and means to improve cooperation and coordination between the two brotherly countries.
In a recently held consultative meeting with the religious scholars, former Jihadi commanders and some political leaders, the Mr Gandapur said the delegation or Jirga will be sent to Kabul in the coming weeks. The meeting was told that a grand meeting of representatives of different political parties will be called in to make a plan and TORs for the proposed talks.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Said, advisor of the KP government on information, stated the draft plan will be discussed with the federal government for approval. However, he categorically ruled out any direct talks with the militant outfits or the word he used “khawarij”.
Professor Ibrahim, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, told the CBN247, “I attended the meeting held in Islamabad. We were told a grand meeting will be held in Peshawar to make and finalize the proposed draft for upcoming talks.” “I am not aware of any follow-up meeting yet. We are waiting for a call to have that meeting in Peshawar.”
Reliable sources in Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam said there was no direct contact with the party leaders by the provincial government. “I can’t say about the proposed plan. There should be broad-based consultations among all the stakeholders before initiating the talks as this is a national issue.”
When contacted, an Afghan diplomatic source said, “There is no formal contract by the KP government and foreign affairs on this issue.”
The provincial government is confident to bring both the Afghan and Pakistani officials to the table to narrow down the gulf. Pakistan and Afghanistan under the Taliban are facing a number of challenges including terrorism at the top. Both countries’ bilateral relations are at a low ebb in recent years.
According to the plan, the KP government is proposing to encourage negotiations among the tribal elders and influential figures living across the dividing line. How effective this could be to have a tribal jirga alongside the political one as such efforts could not had any positive impact.
Afghanistan is also have a list of issues to be put before the Pakistani negotiating teams including the Pakistan policy for the Afghan refugees and trade. Some circles in Afghanistan are also claiming IS-kP having camps inside Pakistan. Pakistan has denied the charges.
