AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN JIRGA DOCUMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 005839 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC PASS TO AHARRIMAN OSD FOR KIMMITT CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN JIRGA DOCUMENTS REF: KABUL 5823 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) As reported reftel, below are the GOA and GOP jirga documents provided to us by Foreign Minister Spanta. The documents have not been provided to other nations, nor to the UN, although many have been given oral briefings. ¶2. Text of Afghanistan Jirga Document: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN REGIONAL PEACE JIRGA PREPARATION COMMISSION SECRETARIAT Introduction to the Joint Peace Jirga Between Afghanistan and Pakistan ¶1. Background The Government of Afghanistan is committed to peace, stability, and long-lasting security in its domain as well as the entire region. In our view, the region would not prosper if all the terrorist activities did not cease, good neighborhood didn,t exist, security weren,t enforced to allow development and, most importantly, if we relented to terrorists, drugs and arms traffickers and didn,t remove their sanctuaries. Therefore, in a meeting, on September 27, 2006, with the President of the United States of America,, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan agreed to hold two common/joint Jirgas attended by the Presidents of both countries in addition to representatives from both countries. Afghanistan believes that terrorism is a menace threatening the globe, particularly our two countries and is therefore, preparing for a fully representative Jirga. ¶2. Main Objective The Jirga will solely be aimed at discussing the causes of insecurity and instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan will work together to agree upon a possible mechanism to end terrorist activities; thus bringing peace and stability to the peoples of both countries. This will be the only point on the agenda and the Jirga will strictly adhere to it. ¶3. Phases and Composition As agreed upon by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in the presence of the President of the United States of America, the Jirga will be held in two phases, first phase in Afghanistan to be followed by the Jirga in Pakistan with the same participants, both attended by the presidents of the two countries. On our side, every effort will be made to make this Jirga as representative as possible. We are waiting for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to establish a mechanism with which the Afghan commission for preparation of Jirga can finalize all details relevant to the Jirga including the date and number of participants. However, a tentative composition of the categories of people who will be represented in the Jirga from Afghanistan will be: - Speakers, deputy speakers and secretaries and chairpersons of all commissions of both houses of the parliament. - Chairpersons of all 34 provincial councils. - Additional number of members of both houses of parliament selected based on specific criteria. - A number of delegates from the constitutional Loya Jirga. - A number of elders representing all provinces of Afghanistan. - A number of delegates representing Kuchis. - A number of delegates representing civil society organizations. KABUL 00005839 002 OF 004 - A number of delegates representing disabled people. - A number of delegates representing afghan refugees in Pakistan, Iran, and the rest of the world. - A number of delegates representing Afghan business community. - A number of delegates representing Ulema and religious communities from all over Afghanistan. - A number of delegates representing from the Universities of Afghanistan. - Members of the Jirga Preparation Commission. ¶4. The Preparation Commission On the 13th of November, the president of Afghanistan appointed a high-level commission comprising of well-known public figures in Afghanistan led by political and spiritual leaders Peer Said Ahman Gilani. The commission has been assigned to oversee the preparations for the Jirga which is expected to be held early January 2007. i. Tasks - Finalizing a realistic and practically suitable time and date for the Jirga. - Advising the president of Afghanistan on issues related to the Jirga. - Finalizing the list of possible participants of the Jirga. - Directing policy on a broad civic education program about the Jirga. - Attending meetings with elders and representatives of people for consultation about the Jirga. ¶5. The Secretariat The Office of Administrative Affairs will have the task of forming a Secretariat for the commission which will subsequently be the secretariat for the Jirga in Afghanistan. i. Main Tasks - Ensuring proper support to the commission and the Jirga in terms of public education, logistical, administrative, financial, media, and public relations related services. - Recording the minutes and decisions of the commission. - Facilitating travel arrangements for the commissioners. - Running a broad public education program for the commission through publications, seminars, workshops, etc. ¶6. Security Security will be the main concern and therefore every effort shall be made to make sure that all the processes leading to convention of the Jirga are conducted in a peaceful and secure environment. A joint team comprising of security institutions supported by international peace keeping forces present in Afghanistan will carry out this responsibility. ¶7. Liaison with Pakistan Initially, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has facilitated the contacts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in relation to the Jirga. Once the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has set up a Mechanism for direct communications with the Afghan commission responsible for preparation for the Jirga, the details about the Jirga will be jointly decided upon. The commission will liaise with that mechanism directly on all arrangements related to the Jirga. ¶8. International Involvement International involvement and support is key to the success of the Jirga. In order to add to its international recognition and legitimacy, we will need involvement and KABUL 00005839 003 OF 004 support of the United States of America and other possible international supporters in all aspects of the Jirga, including: - To participate in the process thus uplifting its legitimacy and international recognition. - To observe the proceedings of the Jirga and assure international backing of the Jirga. - And last but not least, to support the process and provide the means and financial support for the Jirga if needed. END TEXT OF AFGHANISTAN JIRGA DOCUMENT ¶3. Begin Text of Pakistan Jirga Document: On 27 September 2006, the Presidents of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States had discussed the deteriorating security situation especially in South and East of Afghanistan and the ways and means to bring calm and stability in Afghanistan. In this context, the idea of holding Jirgas, a traditional Afghan/Pashtun institution for resolving conflicts and disputes, was discussed and supported. It was felt that activation of this traditional institution would help to achieve the common objective. The Government of Pakistan has already adopted this course of action as part of an overall strategy for Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA) which have been adversely affected by the conflict in Afghanistan since 1979. In addition to military action against Al-Qaeda and Taliban related militancy, the Pakistan Government adopted a political and administrative approach and a programme for socio-economic development. The agreement reached through Jirga in North Waziristan is the first step in that direction representing the political approach to commit the local elders, Ulema, and other influentials to ensuring peace and security in the Agency and preventing any cross border militancy inside Afghanistan. The Government is now engaged in working out similar arrangements in Bajaur and South Waziristan. The Government is further mobilizing resources for reinforcing the existing administrative and security structures in the shape of the office of the political agents, frontier corps, frontier constabulary, and levies. Plans are in hand for development of infrastructure and other economic projects in the area. The same approach with varying emphasis is being applied to other agencies and districts bordering Afghanistan. In the light of this experience, there is a need to adopt an effective approach mobilizing the tribal institutions to enlist the support of the local population with a view to isolating the militants and bring normalcy in the areas of Afghanistan with border Pakistan. This would be consistent with the understanding reached among the three Presidents of Washington. Therefore, - The Government of Pakistan will continue its efforts to also organize Jirgas in Bajaur, South Waziristan and other agencies while monitoring the implementation of the agreement that it reached in North Waziristan. Towards this end, the Government will also set in motion a process for winning support of local elders of other tribal agencies as well as implement its plans for raising local security forces and programmes for socio-economic development. Governor NWFP will be in charge of promoting this effort in FATA. - The Government of Afghanistan may also consider activating tribal elders and other influential elements on its side of the border through the traditional institution of Jirgas for the purpose of ending conflict and violence and to bring about normalcy. Once this process is put in place on the Afghan side as well, cross-border movement will be greatly discouraged. KABUL 00005839 004 OF 004 - Once, elders and influentials from tribes inhabiting the Afghan side of the border are identified and process of Jirgas is set into motion, Pakistan will be prepared to send notables, if required, to facilitate the process. - Following the above, a meeting will be addressed by the two Presidents in Kabul in the presence of notables of both the countries. - A meeting of notables from both countries will also be held in Islamabad to be addressed by the two Presidents to strengthen mutual understanding. - The international community should commit substantial assistance without delay to supplement the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan with a view to ensuring their success. The President of Pakistan has already appealed to the donor community to launch a Marshal Plan for Afghanistan, with special focus on South and South East of Afghanistan which has been particularly affected by violence. - The two Foreign Ministers will review the situation every two months. END TEXT OF PAKISTAN JIRGA DOCUMENT NEUMANN