Pakistani media have reported that a peace jirga is scheduled to be held in Peshawar to help resolve the ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the reports, the jirga is planned for March 31, and well-known politicians, tribal elders, religious scholars, businessmen, and representatives of civil society and media will participate.
Organizers of the jirga say that prominent figures and personalities who are active in promoting peace and stability between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also been invited.
Arbab Shahzad Khan, head of the Aspire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Foundation, said:
“The purpose of holding this jirga is to create a (joint) pathway for peace and stability between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to strengthen the process of dialogue. After this jirga in Peshawar, similar peace jirgas will also be held in Quetta and other areas.”
According to him, peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan are an urgent necessity, and at the end of the jirga, a joint declaration will be issued and shared with the governments of both countries in support of this effort.
The key question now is whether Pakistan’s military establishment is committed to resolving issues through such jirgas. Analysts say that while such gatherings can send a positive symbolic message for dialogue, they are not very effective in achieving tangible outcomes.
Political analyst Rohullah Hotak said:
“Calling for a ceasefire and issuing a joint declaration may help calm the diplomatic atmosphere and also pave the way for formal talks. Focusing on confidence-building may reduce emotional tensions, especially in areas along both sides of the Durand Line. This jirga is a civil initiative, not an official government meeting.”
Some other analysts believe that Pakistan’s military establishment, due to its involvement in proxy conflicts, may not accept demands that are vital for the people under its control.
Political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazai said:
“If this jirga genuinely and impartially examines the realities and then makes decisions that bring peace, stability, and prosperity to the people of both countries—and guarantees that neither country will attack the other in the future—it would be very successful.”
This jirga is being organized in Peshawar by the Aspire Pakhtunkhwa Foundation and the Islah National Movement at a time when Pakistan’s military establishment still insists on confrontation with Afghanistan and does not prioritize reducing tensions through diplomatic means.
