Pakistani, Afghan elders hold Jirga in Kurram

PARACHINAR: A joint jirga of the tribal elders from Pakistan and Afghanistan was held in Kurram Agency on Sunday that extended the ceasefire which was brokered after the firing incident.

According to Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sajid Turi, the jirga decided that ceasefire earlier meant for one week was extended till the resolution of the firing incident. It may be recalled that five security men were martyred and two injured in a firing incident at the Pak-Afghan border.

The joint jirga of the Afghan and Pakistan tribal elders was convened with the aim to defuse tension.

It was learnt that the jirga also tasked a review committee with determining the border between the two countries. The committee in question is going to start its work from tomorrow (April 24). It would look into the border dispute and make a decision in light of facts.

Speaking at the jirga, tribal elders from Afghanistan Wali Khan, Malik Zawar, Syed Asghar Akakhel and others termed the firing incident deplorable and stressed that war was not the solution to any issue. They maintained that Pakistan and Afghanistan were brotherly Muslims countries so Islamabad and Kabul must sort out their differences through talks. The elders said that the tribespeople on both sides of the border were brethren.

Tribal elders from Kurram Agency Sardar Malikhel, Malik Faiz Mohammad Malikhel, Malik Iqbal Turi, Haji Malik Hussain and others said that Pakistan hosted the Afghan refugees for over 30 years, adding the Afghans were our Muslim brothers.

However, he cautioned that the Afghans must be mindful of the presence of agents in their ranks.