AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN JIRGA DOCUMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 005839

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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.

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- 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

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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.

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- 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