PESHAWAR:
The Pakistan-Afghanistan Aman Jirga on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire between the two countries and urged the two countries to resolve their conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq after Afghan Taliban forces fired on several locations, prompting rapid military retaliation from Pakistan. However, a brief ceasefire was observed at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey in view of the Eidul Fitr holidays, which ended at midnight between March 23 and 24.
Aspire Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the National Reform Movement today held the jirga and highlighted the need for both countries to ensure that their territories are not used against each other.
The jirga was hosted by former Chief Secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan, in the presence of representatives of various political parties, religious scholars, business community and media professionals.
Addressing a press briefing after the jirga, former governor Shaukatullah Khan said Pakistan and Afghanistan shared deep-rooted cultural, religious and social ties.
“The jirga’s call for peace is based on the belief that war is not a solution to the problems between the two nations,” he added.
Jirga leaders demanded an immediate ceasefire and called on both countries to ensure their lands are not used against each other.
They stressed the importance of resolving all disputes through negotiation and diplomatic means, as only mutual respect and understanding can guarantee lasting peace.
Additionally, they proposed the creation of an ongoing communications platform to facilitate ongoing dialogue, enabling both countries to better understand each other’s perspectives, challenges and constraints.
The jirga participants expressed hope that through focused diplomacy and citizen engagement, Pakistan and Afghanistan could make significant progress towards peace, stressing that mutual understanding and sustained efforts were essential to achieve this crucial goal.
The latest round of hostilities began in late February, following a series of deadly attacks across Pakistan by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, for which Islamabad accused Afghanistan of sheltering them and failing to take action against them. Kabul denies these accusations.
This followed airstrikes by the Pakistani army targeting suspected TTP hideouts in Afghanistan.
According to Kabul, the airstrikes killed dozens of civilians, while Islamabad claimed that more than 500 TTP militants were killed in the strikes.
