Afghan Jirga concludes with calling on warring sides to halt war (4)

Some 1,600 people including tribal elders, lawmakers, social and political figures as well as government officials attended the jirga to discuss the ways and means on talks with Taliban and other opposition groups to ensure lasting peace in the country.

Speaking at a press conference after the conclusion of the peace jirga chairman of the jirga, the former president and serving lawmaker Burhanudin Rabbani emphasized, "It is necessary to talk with enemy and to reconcile with the enemy in order to have peace in the country."

However, Taliban militants on the eve of the Jirga on Tuesday in a statement released to media denounced the jirga as a ploy of U.S. and vowed to continue jihad or holy war till the eviction of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Taliban fighters, minutes after opening of the jirga on Wednesday, targeted the venue with rocket propelled grenades and small arms and disrupted the process for a while.

The jirga resumed its normal proceeding after killing two militants and arresting another by security forces after gun battle which lasted for some two hours.

Source: Xinhua
【1】 【2】 【3】 【4】