Afghanistan hosts peace council
Posted by worldboard on August 9, 2007
A peace council of Afghan and Pakistani political and tribal leaders has begun in the Afghan capital, Kabul, but without Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who decided not to attend at the last minute. Pakistan is being represented at the three-day council, or “jirga”, by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Afghan President Harmid Karsai told the tribal leaders that both nations could defeat a resurgent Al-Qaeda and Taliban if they worked together. Nearly 100 Pakistani delegates from tribal areas where Al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists are said to be most active have boycotted the meeting. Security is tight, with around 2,500 police guarding the jirga including NATO troops.
