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Kabul prepares for 'peace jirga' Musharraf stays away from 'jirga'
(about 3 hours later)
Preparations are under way in the Afghan capital Kabul for a three-day 'peace jirga', or tribal council, between Pakistani and Afghan leaders. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he will not attend a three-day "peace jirga", or tribal council, in the Afghan capital Kabul.
A total of 700 tribal elders, Islamic clerics and leaders are expected to attend the 'peace jirga' from Thursday. Elders from the Pakistani tribal regions of North and South of Waziristan have also refused to attend.
Members of the Taleban have asked people to boycott the jirga, which will discuss terrorism and ways to promote peace in the region. Up to 700 tribal elders, Islamic clerics and leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan have been invited to the council, which will discuss terrorism.
Pakistan and Afghanistan accuse each other of failing to fight terrorism. The Taleban have not been included, and are calling for a boycott of the event.
There are many reasons to be optimistic: we have similar religion, history and culture. Asif Durrani, Pakistan Embassy Deputy Head of Mission in Kabul Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs issued a statement on Wednesday saying Gen Musharraf had telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai to assure his "full support in making the Joint Peace Jirga a success".
The idea of a joint Afghan-Pakistan Peace Jirga, was first suggested by Afghan President Hamid Karzai during talks with US President George Bush in September. This is only a display, which cannot produce the true views of the Afghan people. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, secretary general of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
In October, President Karzai said he saw the jirga as an attempt to revive Pashtun civil society on both sides of the border in order to combat what he called the growing Talebanisation of the region. But he said engagements in Islamabad meant that he would not be able to attend the council, due to start on Thursday.
Jirgas are a traditional method of decision-making and dispute-resolution in the Pashtun tribal regions, which straddle the Afghan-Pakistan border. However correspondents say the decision may be intended as a snub to the US-sponsored jirga, following recent statements by US presidential candidates about alleged Pakistani failings in the "war on terror".
The Taleban have denounced the jirga, calling it "George Bush's initiative". Correspondents say the jirga is also widely seen as a non-starter by the Pakistani establishment without the inclusion of the Taleban.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is due to open the jirga along with Hamid Karzai on Thursday. Futile?
Gen Musharraf will send Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his place to inaugurate the assembly along with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Roads are being repaired ahead of the assembly in Kabul
The idea of a joint Afghan-Pakistan Peace Jirga, was first suggested by Mr Karzai during talks with US President George W Bush in September.
In October, President Karzai said he saw the jirga as an attempt to revive Pashtun civil society on both sides of the border, to combat what he called the growing Talebanisation of the region.
Jirgas are a traditional method of decision-making and dispute-resolution. The Taleban have denounced the jirga, calling it "George Bush's initiative".
Supporters of the Taleban say talks that do not include them could be futile.
Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, secretary general of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) told the Associated Press news agency: "This is only a display, which cannot produce the true views of the Afghan people."
Tribal elders in north and south Waziristan on the border with Afghanistan have also said that they are boycotting the jirga.
'Roots of the problem''Roots of the problem'
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary says that both sides are optimistic about the jirga. The BBC's Bilal Sarwary, however, said there was some optimism in Kabul about the jirga.
Dr Nimatullah, an MP from Kabul, told the BBC: "Terrorism used to be a problem alone for Afghanistan but recently Pakistan too is affected."Dr Nimatullah, an MP from Kabul, told the BBC: "Terrorism used to be a problem alone for Afghanistan but recently Pakistan too is affected."
Roads are being repaired ahead of the assembly in Kabul"We will be discussing ways to put an end to this but also talk about our problems and concerns face to face," he said. The Afghan spokesman for the jirga, Asif Nang, explained that the jirga would look at "what causes the insecurity, locate the hideouts of terrorists, track finances and find out how we could deal with the whole problem".
The Afghan spokesman for the jirga, Asif Nang, explained that the jirga will be "trying to find the roots of terrorism." The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says that the sight of Pakistani flags throughout the city is unusual because of the climate of mistrust between the two countries.
It will look at "what causes the insecurity, locate the hideouts of terrorists, track finances and find out how we could deal with the whole problem," he said.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary says that the sight of Pakistani flags throughout Kabul are unusual because of the climate of mistrust between the two countries.
Driving towards the site of the jirga, he says, there are posters with slogans celebrating the friendship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.