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Musharraf to address Afghan jirga | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai are due to address the final session of a "peace jirga" in Kabul. | |
An audience of 700 tribal leaders from both countries will hear from the leaders who met at the presidential palace before going to the conference. | |
Correspondents say there was disappointment when Gen Musharraf did not attend the jirga's opening session. | |
Bilateral relations have been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban. | Bilateral relations have been strained over the resurgence of the Taleban. |
Both countries are allies of the US and say that they want to quash terrorism, but many Afghan officials accuse Pakistan of harbouring Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters. | Both countries are allies of the US and say that they want to quash terrorism, but many Afghan officials accuse Pakistan of harbouring Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters. |
Islamabad has strongly denied the charge, pointing out that it has arrested several senior militant leaders and is battling its own Taleban threat in its tribal areas. | Islamabad has strongly denied the charge, pointing out that it has arrested several senior militant leaders and is battling its own Taleban threat in its tribal areas. |
Jirga boost | |
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the jirga is set to issue a statement calling for the elimination of terrorism. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says the jirga is set to issue a statement calling for the elimination of terrorism. |
It will also call on the Afghan government to reach out to the Taleban whilst also recommending that more is done to promote economic development in the border region. | It will also call on the Afghan government to reach out to the Taleban whilst also recommending that more is done to promote economic development in the border region. |
Our correspondent adds that Gen Musharraf's presence will be a boost to the jirga. | Our correspondent adds that Gen Musharraf's presence will be a boost to the jirga. |
Regional views on jirga | Regional views on jirga |
"Pakistan is very hopeful that this jirga will contribute to establishing peace in these areas... We believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan is of vital importance to Pakistan," Pakistan foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP news agency. | "Pakistan is very hopeful that this jirga will contribute to establishing peace in these areas... We believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan is of vital importance to Pakistan," Pakistan foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP news agency. |
Hundreds of delegates from both countries have been discussing the difficult question of the burgeoning insurgency by the Taleban and other rebels on both sides of the border. | Hundreds of delegates from both countries have been discussing the difficult question of the burgeoning insurgency by the Taleban and other rebels on both sides of the border. |
However, tribal elders from Waziristan, the Pakistani region from which much of the instability stems, refused to attend the peace summit. | However, tribal elders from Waziristan, the Pakistani region from which much of the instability stems, refused to attend the peace summit. |
They said that without Taleban representatives present at the talks no solution could be found. | They said that without Taleban representatives present at the talks no solution could be found. |
In the past 18 months relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated. | In the past 18 months relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated. |
Opening the peace summit on Thursday, Mr Karzai said Afghanistan must work with Pakistan to defeat Islamic militants, telling delegates of their "common destiny". | Opening the peace summit on Thursday, Mr Karzai said Afghanistan must work with Pakistan to defeat Islamic militants, telling delegates of their "common destiny". |