Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Loya Jirga Symbolic Event: UNF

Loya Jirga  Symbolic Event: UNF

KABUL - The United National Front (UNF), an alliance of opposition parties, said on Sunday said the traditional Loya Jirga on the strategic cooperation pact with the US was symbolic and its suggestions would not be enforced. More than 2,000 tribal elders, religious scholars and political leaders attended the grand assembly that concluded on Saturday with the release of a 76-article declaration, recommending the creation of American bases in the country for a decade.

The participants, who underlined respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty, recommended the agreement should be valid for 10 years and peace talks with Afghan militants, with clear addresses, should continue.

While opposing American military bases in Afghanistan, UNF spokesman Waheed Muzhda said that President Hamid Karzai had convened the Jirga to find some documentary justification for the deal against the choice of parliamentarians.

On the conclusive day of the Jirga, Karzai said the participants had floated valuable suggestions and his government would work on implementing them.

The US government was unlikely to accept the recommendations of the Loya Jirga, because there was no guarantee of American promises being translated into action, he believed.

"Americans have already said in categorical terms what is mentioned in the agreement is not important to them. Only their personal interests are important to them," the spokesman said.

The jirga suggested the agreement be implemented after it was approved by Parliament and the United Nations involved as a third party. Founded in October, the UNF boycotted the Jirga.