“Peace can only be established in Afghanistan if our neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan, stop interfering in our country’s internal affairs; peace in Afghanistan is not only in the interests of these countries but also has a great importance for the safety of the region.”

An interview with Member of Parliament Moein Marastyal regarding the National Consultative Peace Jirga

Q: What does ‘jirga’ mean and how important is it in Afghanistan’s history?

A: It means a gathering of elders -- similar to today’s gatherings -- which is held to discuss an important issue and solve a problem. It has a long history in Afghanistan. It is a tradition of the people of Afghanistan and they have solved many national and international issues through jirgas.

Holding jirgas has been common in Afghanistan since the second century reign of King Kanishka. In the territory which is now Afghanistan, the first king -Yama - was appointed through a jirga. Ahmad Shah Baba - the first emperor of Afghanistan (in the Abdali Empire) -- was also appointed through  a jirga. Since then it has had a very important role in solving problems and many Afghan kings such as Amir Sher Ali Khan, Amir Abdul Rahman Khan, Amir Habibullah Khan and Amir Amanullah Khan have resolved many domestic and international issues through jirgas.

We have held two important jirgas since the collapse of the Taliban regime: the first one was the Emergency Peace Jirga in which Hamid Karzai was elected as head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and the second one was the Constitutional Jirga in which we approved a Constitution for Afghanistan.
 
And now it is the National Consultative Peace Jirga which will be held in Sawr (May) to solve a big problem – war – in Afghanistan. This jirga is designed to bring peace and to solve the internal problems of Afghan people.

Q: Who is invited to the National Consultative Peace Jirga?

A: People from different tribes (majorities and minorities), races and regions are invited. All Members of Parliament and one person from each district of Afghanistan (totally 360 persons) - in consultation with district residents and government authorities – will participate in this Jirga.

Representatives from civil society, Afghanistan’s Cleric Shura, as well as Cultural and Scholarly Associations are invited to participate. In addition to women from parliament and civil society, ta minimum of 30 other influential women will be invited to this jirga. The total number of participants will be 1250. Furthermore, approximately 150 other people including cabinet members and presidential advisors, UN representatives, foreign diplomats and ambassadors and other high-ranking officials will participate as observers; they will not have the right to vote.

Q: What is the mechanism for selecting delegates to the Jirga?

A: Provincial government officials -- governors and district governors -- are given the authority to invite tribal elders and ask them to elect one popular and well-educated person among them to participate in the Jirga. The elected person should belong to the tribe which makes up the majority of the population in the area. He should not be appointed.

Q: You mentioned that participants from the districts should be elected instead of appointed, but there is evidences that in some provinces authorities have introduced their own choices to the Jirga. For instance, the governor of Jowzjan has nominated his female deputy to represent Jawzjan’s women in the Jirga. What do you think; is this election or appointment?

A: People and government officials both have a responsibility to avoid such cases. The mechanism has already been sent to relevant government officials; they should follow it. Violating the mechanism is against the rules and regulations of the Jirga. According to that mechanism, government officials do not have the right to appoint people; they should let people elect their own representatives to participate in this Jirga.

Q: What will be discussed in the Jirga?

A: The agenda includes three important points: Consultation, Dialogue and Agreement on peace talks. First, the people’s representatives will discuss whether or not they want sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Secondly, they will talk about establishing a framework to start negotiations with the armed opposition accordingly. Third, when a framework is established they talk about creating a mechanism through which they can negotiate with the opposition.

The important point is that this Jirga will prove positive for national unity, and forming good relations among the people of Afghanistan.

Q: Are representatives of the Taliban invited? If not, what will be their stance?

A: Representatives of the Taliban are not invited to the Jirga. Only the people who do not oppose the country’s political system will discuss whether or not to reconcile with those who are against the system. They will develop a mechanism how to reconcile with armed opponents; after consultation and establishing a mechanism for negotiation, then it is time for the second step, which is to invite the opposition to the table.

Q: Many people criticize the Jirga and say that it will be merely symbolic, like previous ones, and will not bring any positive results. For instance, the 2007 Regional Peace Jirga (with Pakistan) had no positive results. What makes this Jirga different?

A: As I mentioned before jirgas in general have great importance in Afghanistan’s history and many issues have been solved through jirgas in the country. Two important jirgas - Emergency Loya Jirga and Constitution Jirga – which were held in last eight years and had positive results. The last jirga was the Regional Peace Jirga held in Afghanistan. It was anticipated that this Jirga would first be held in Afghanistan and then in Pakistan. Afghanistan had fulfilled its responsibility; but because of political changes in Pakistan, the second session was delayed. We should not criticize this Jirga and ignore its outcomes. It was the Regional Peace Jirga that fostered goodwill and cemented relations between people living on both sides of the Durand line.

Actually, it was a successful Jirga for the Afghan people.

Q: How confident you are that this Consultative Peace Jirga will help in establishing peace in Afghanistan?

A: Fortunately, the Afghan people and their international allies have realized that problems in Afghanistan cannot be solved through war. The government’s armed opposition is also tired of fighting and are looking for a solution. I hope the participants of the Jirga decide to reconcile with the armed opposition. I am pretty sure that people’s representatives will take such a decision and this Jirga will have positive results.
 
It is very important that the international community and neighboring countries help Afghanistan to establish peace. The cooperation of neighboring countries, who keep interfering in our internal affairs to achieve their goals, is vital.

Q: Could you specify which neighboring countries you mean? And if they do not stop interfering what will be the solution?

A: I mean Iran and Pakistan. They do not know that peace in Afghanistan means peace in the region; they still think that an insecure Afghanistan is in their interests. They should be convinced that peace in Afghanistan means peace in the region.

They should stop interfering; if not, then the international community must put political and economical pressure on them to stop their intervention and support of anti-government elements. It will be very easy to establish peace in Afghanistan if our neighboring countries and the international community really help us in this regard.

Q: How do you provide for the logistical needs of the Jirga?

A: A team headed by Education Minister Ghulam Farooq Wardak is responsible for the logistical arrangements of the Jirga. This team includes staff from the Administrative Office of the Council of Ministers and other government offices who total 250 persons. Also other governmental and nongovernmental organizations help them in cultural and financial fields.

Once the Jirga starts then the participants take the lead and the abovementioned team’s members and other government authorities do not interfere. The participants will elect a chairman, deputy chairmen, and secretariat for the Jirga. Then they will continue their work according to agenda.