Peace Jirga between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Peace Jirga between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Jirga is a traditional and historical custom of Pakhtun/Afghans .Whenever Pakhtun faces problem or a dispute, they call a Jirga to discuss imbroglio and find the means and ways for its amicable solution. The decisions made in a jirga, are like a law for pashtuns and they are bound to abide by all the decisions of the Jirga. Those who defy the decisions of jirga, have to face the punishments adopted by the elders” MASHARAN” of the jirga. The violators are fined and in some cases they are forced to leave the area for sometime or forever as the decision are taken with a consensus of the members of the Jirga, keeping seriousness of the crime between disputing parties. The consent and willingness are taken from both the disputing parties before holding of jirga. If any of the parties does not agree then Jirga proceedings are not initiated. Pashtun Jirga has its own elders “Commonly known as “Mashran”. The bail which is obtained before holding of Pashtun Jirga is in the form of cash money, rifles (guns) or both. In case a party does not accept the verdict of the jirga its bail is confiscated and punished.

Professor Sidiqullah Rishteen a well known pakhtun/Afghan writer who writes about jirga in his book “ Pashtun Ways ”. There are two types of Jirga one is “Loya Jirga” or Big Jirga and other is Wara jirga or small Jirga. When ever a big national issue happens a Loya Jirga is called and the problem is solved through it but when there is an issue concerning Pakhtun on a local base, a small Jirga is constituted and the problem is discussed and amicably solved between disputed parties. When a disputing party does not agree to give power of attorney then mashran of Jirga give in their verdict , in case of non – acceptance an other jirga is called and the MASHRAN try their best to take the problem to as amicable solution between the warring factions. Professor Rishteen traces back the historical perspective of the Jirga and writes “Loya Jirga has an important place in the history of Afghans/Pakhtuns. First afghan /pakhtun King “ Great Ahmad shah abdali” “Ahmad shah baba “as the pakhtun call him due to his greatness was elected as a king with help of a loya Jirga constituted by afghans in 1141 Hijra or 1747 A.D in Kandhar, Afghanistan.

Jirga is an excellent example of the democracy. No one will be able to find such as example where subjects have chosen their king with the help of Jirga except Pashtun / Afghans.

Those who claim loudly on the international forum that Pakhtuns/ Afghans do not know democracy or they are not democrats those anti-Pakhtun elements should bother to read the history of Pakhtuns and they themselves will realize how much the pakhtun nation is a democratic one and how much their contribution is towards the democratization of the institutions. World should know that paktuns have a history of the democracy. They love it and work to run democracy. If people sitting in the establishment of Pakistan including General Pervez Mushrraf are not tried telling the world that pakhtuns are Taliban and Taliban are pashtun, they all are ignorant and have simply closed their eyes. Pashtun are not Taliban. Taliban or the fundamentalist forces are the by product of the Afghan war which Pakistani establishment was fighting and for the purpose people were required and unfortunately the war was on the land of Pakhtun/Afghans so these poor lots were used by the Pakistani establishment and still this establishment is using those negative forces against Afghanistan , as the entire world understands that people sitting in the foreign office of Pakistan do keep their intervention in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and does not like to see a democratic and prosperous Afghanistan . Pakhtun understand democracy and they have a respect for all the decisions of the Jirga. All the Jirgas of Pakhtun / Afghans are democratic. In jirgas all and sundry take part. But the authority is in the hands of those who are the elders of the jirga called “MASHRAN”. Those who know the customs and traditions of Pakhtun/ Afghan in a better way are chosen as the elders for the Jirga. This is one of the important factors. But this should be kept in mind that the opinion of majority is favored.
A peace jirga is going to be held in the first week of August 2007 between Afghanistan and Pakistan . In said Jirga, about 700 members from both the countries will participate. 350 members will be from Afghanistan and a similar number of the members will participate from Pakistan . The venue for jirga is Kabul . Now we come to the point as to why this peace jirga is being held between these two countries. We should little go to the history of Afghanistan . Where there has been a war for the last 30 years or so. During this period Afghanistan was severely ravaged and damaged. The Afghans suffered heavily and faced troubles. There troubles are not yet finished. The problem of Afghanistan is the problem of the whole world. Those who think that the problem of Afghanistan is their own; such people are not aware of the politics of the world and are ignorant.

This is out rightly a wrong and negative thinking. Attacks on America in 2001 by the terrorist in which thousands of the innocent and peaceful souls vanished. Similarly the consecutive bomb explosions in various cities of Pakistan particularly in pakhtunkhwa where again the innocent people become victims of terrorism of the terrorists crossing over the Durand line by the extremists and terrorist forces and establishing the peace and democracy in Afghanistan by theses forces in question show that the problem of Afghanistan is not a local one. This is an international problem. Peace in Afghanistan is in the favor of the world. If Afghanistan is unstable and peace is not found there then the entire world might be at risk and would be at the disposal of the negative forces. The neighboring countries of Afghanistan should take sincere steps for bringing peace and stability in that country. The solution of the Afghanistan problem is the need of hour. Today we see that Pakistan also faces instability and peace is in danger where secular and democratic forces are weaker while negative and extremists forces are stronger and can do anything they wish to do. They have the pelf and power. They are backed by the establishment of Pakistan . Mulla and military are one soul and one body. But when military sees its death then clergy a long time and old friend of the military becomes scrap goat.

Clergy men are slaughtered. World should not be a mere blind follower and accept that all what a military dictator tell them. World should ask the military uniformed president as to who are backing the extremist and negative forces in Pakistan at the cost of liberal , secular and democratic political parties and people alike. Who are the architects of these so called negative forces? Who train them and why? Who funnel huge sums of money to these extremists and who have been supervising these seminars for the last 30 years?
Now these forces have turned indomitable and when Pakistan comes under pressure only then a seminary or an extremist cleric is targeted. There is a flood of the fire brand clergymen and religious seminars which are propped up to keep and intervention in Afghanistan and wage a war in Kashmir . The establishment of Islamabad has never been sincere to see a stable and peaceful neighboring Afghanistan because it thinks that unstable and impoverished Afghanistan is in the benefit of Pakistan . They think when Afghanistan gets stronger then she will demand for her lost territories and issue of Durand line will come to surface once again. This is a real threat for them and this haunts them resultantly the fire burnt in Afghanistan reached Islamabad due to wrong policies of Pakistani establishment against Afghanistan .

This should also be kept in mind that real fault does not lie on Durand line. This fault is situated some where away from here. If Pakistani establishment is sincere she should rather eliminate the sources of extremism and fundamentalism instead of fencing and mining of the Durand line. Fencing and mining are inhuman and insincerity. This is not the solution of the issue. Extremists and terrorist will never stop their movement across Durand line. They are well trained and know how to cross the Durand line. Until and unless the sources and nests are eliminated. The movement across the Durand line by the negative forces will keep continued. Fencing and mining will multiply the problems of those pakthun/Afghans that live there and are dependant on each other.
The tribes living both sides of the Durand line are pakhtuns. If curbs are put on their free movement this step will destroy not ally their relationship but their economy also which will further add to their miseries and uncertainty will prevail. People sitting in Islamabad do not know this fact and they have no time to think over the important issues. They increase the problems rather than minimizing them. In the up coming peace jirga people living on Durand line should be given representation to let the world know about their problems.

An overwhelming situation is seen in Afghanistan about peace Jirga which is to be held in first week of August, 2007 in Kabul . But no enthusiasm is witnessed in Pakistan so far. It means that the suffers are Afghans, who want to see the dawn of peace in their country. The president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has called the Pakhtun political leadership including Asfandiyar Wali khan, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Moulana Fazal Rahman of the JUI, a Political cum religious leader. He had a discussion with them all about peace Jirga. But Pakistani establishment or the Jirga commission has not yet invited them to Jirga.
This is true that the real problem is between Afghanistan and Pakistan . But one should understand the problem of terrorism and extremism is not related to Afghanistan only. Now this is a Political problem and concerning to the entire world. Therefore, it is necessary that the representatives from America , Canada , European Union, UNO , Organization of Islamic Conference, Germany and Japan in particular should be invited to observe the proceeding of the jirga. This will give an impetus to Jirga and the implementation of the decisions of Jirga will be made practical in the presence of the world powers. To me a third power is needed between Afghanistan and Pakistan , as a guarantor.

Jirga is a traditional and historical Custom of Pakhtun/Afghans only. In Pakistan only the Pakhtuns living this side of Durand Line understand it, while all people in Afghanistan know the Jirgas. Pakistan does not understand the Jirga, but still Pukhtuns hope positively that at least this will be cleared that where are the real source of terrorism which intervene in Afghanistan and risk the peace there? The ways and means could be found to curb the the activities of the terrorists.

May God forbid! If the upcoming peace Jirga did not succeed and the world will not take the problem of Afghanistan in a serious manner, then the peaceful, prosperous and democratic world will be no more the cradle of peace. The terrorists will destroy it. World should deem it seriously. America and Taliban should also realize that they are unable to rule Afghanistan again. As their government was seen by people where there was no State, no human rights, unable to walk side by side with world. A welfare and democratic state is the need of the hour. The President Hamid Karzai and his team is an efficient one who strive hard to put the country on the track of democracy, prosperity and development.

General public do not like Mujahideen and Taliban .people have an obligation to back the democratic government in the Afghanistan , and play their due role in the re-construction of the country. Almost all the Wars in Afghanistan have fought in the areas where Pashtuns are in majority. Today those areas are again in the grip of the fighting. Pakhtun should try to understand as to why they are fighting Wars. They are not the only people to fight wars for the religion. Now they are tired, other Muslim countries should take this responsibility, if they want to serve the cause of religion, if they claim?

Pashtuns should be left over to get modern education, come closer to the science and modern technology, learn to walk with the world side by side and build their country for their posterity where democracy and prosperity prevail.

Regards,
Written By:

Zar Ali Khan Musazai
Chairman
Pakhtun Democratic council.
Mobile : 0301 5963337