KABUL: A huge peace meeting aimed at finding an exit from Afghanistan's war is due to finish Friday (May 3) in Kabul, with leading politicians expected to announce visions for a much-needed breakthrough.This week's "loya jirga", or grand assembly, saw about 3,200 religious and tribal leaders, politicians and representatives gather under tight security to try to find common ground and discuss possible conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban.On Thursday, several officials said a vital first step is an immediate reduction in violence, which has continued apace across Afghanistan even with various peace summits taking place."Every day, Afghans are being killed without any reason. An unconditional ceasefire must be announced," said Mohammad Qureshi, head of one of the jirga's many committees.The jirga comes as the Taliban, who were not at the talks, are this week separately meeting in Doha with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.Those talks focus on a potential deal that would see … [Read more...] about Massive Afghanistan peace summit ends in Kabul
Jirga
Afghans call for ceasefire as huge peace summit wraps up
KABUL: Afghan officials called for a ceasefire Thursday as a huge peace summit wound down in Kabul after thousands of delegates spent days discussing possible conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban. This week’s “loya jirga”, or grand assembly, saw more than 3,000 religious and tribal leaders, politicians and representatives from across the country gather under tight security to discuss the possibility of peace. The Taliban, who were not at the talks, are this week separately meeting in Doha with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in a bid to make a deal with Washington that could see the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. While the full results of the summit may not be announced until Friday, several committee leaders said they wanted to see an immediate pause in violence, which has continued apace across Afghanistan even with various peace summits taking place. “Every day, Afghans are being killed without any reason. An unconditional ceasefire … [Read more...] about Afghans call for ceasefire as huge peace summit wraps up
Kabul on lockdown as assembly discusses peace with the Taliban
KABUL: Afghanistan's usually bustling capital Kabul slowed to a crawl on Tuesday (Apr 30) amid massive security for a high-stakes peace summit that has previously been a target for insurgent attacks.Police flooded the city and authorities blocked off key roads around the venue of the so-called "loya jirga" - where some 3,000 tribal elders, religious figures, and politicians from across Afghanistan are gathering over four days to discuss possible conditions for a peace deal with the Taliban.Taliban suicide bombers armed with rockets and guns attacked a 2010 peace jirga at the same venue, and in 2011, two rockets were fired into Kabul during a two-day jirga.Despite such past attacks, Kabul residents are infuriated with the scale of the lockdown, which has already been blamed for at least one death and has paralysed businesses in what would ordinarily be a busy week before Ramadan begins.Local media reported that a newborn baby died when the father, who was trying to take the … [Read more...] about Kabul on lockdown as assembly discusses peace with the Taliban
Thousands gather in Kabul for Afghan peace meeting
KABUL: Thousands of politicians and officials from across Afghanistan gathered amid tight security in Kabul Monday (Apr 29) to discuss the war and US efforts to forge a peace deal with the Taliban.More than 3,000 people have been invited to the rare "loya jirga", which is being billed as the largest in modern Afghan history, in a bid to set possible conditions under which they might accept a peace settlement.The loya jirga - literally "grand assembly" in Pashto - is being held as the US and Taliban are discussing a possible foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and various Taliban pledges.The talks have so far cut out the government of President Ashraf Ghani, whom the Taliban view as a US stooge."We want to specify the main lines for the negotiations with the Taliban," Ghani said at the start of the summit. "We want clear advice from all of you."Ghani's government hopes the high-stakes meeting will set out Kabul's conditions for any deal, … [Read more...] about Thousands gather in Kabul for Afghan peace meeting