Judging from this article from Afghanistan’s Outlook Afghanistan newspaper, the Peace Jirga held last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by President Hamid Karzai did little it improve his government’s credibility among average Afghans, or persuade the militants to reenter what in Afghanistan qualifies as the ‘mainstream.’
Reporting in part on the wave of bombings surrounding the event and even the venue itself – and the reactions of those who refused to take part – Outlook Afghanistan columnist Sher Alam Saqib quotes some of those who were excluded from the Jirga or refused to take part:
They [the government] launched a drive to convene this phony Jirga, to provide stuff for public consumption in American and the world. .. Beyond the slogans, holding this so-called National Consultative Jirga under the name of peace is part of a failed effort by invading Americans and their surrogates. The idea for convening a so-called National Consultative Jirga was essentially one raised earlier this year by Richard Holbrooke, U.S. envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
— Attributed to Taliban hardliners
“Although I’m not optimistic about any tangible results coming out of this Jirga, I offer my best wishes to the participants and pray for their success. Peace and stability in Afghanistan are vital for us and the region. But the Constitution and the values it protects, like freedom of expression and faith, human rights, justice and the rights of social and ethnic groups, shouldn’t be sacrificed to appease the militants.”
— Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Unity Party of Afghanistan, credited with providing ‘many of the legitimate votes for Karzai’s reelection
“Participants of the Jirga are favorites of the state. They have no decision-making power. This is nothing but a consultative Jirga – since it lacks the participation of the Mujahideen (resistance fighters).”
— Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leads group and party charged with participating with Taliban and al-Qaeda actions
“Unfortunately, there are still circles with strong ethnically-chauvinist thinking and who are engaged in planning to dominate Afghanistan. This has the potential of badly undermining the process of state-building. Insecurity is spreading and Afghanistan risks becoming a narco-state. The dream of Afghans to see their country as peaceful and prosperous has already been shattered.”
— Mohammad Mohaqiq, described at a prominent leader of the Hazara people. The group is said to have been saved from annihilation from the Taliban by the U.S. invasion.
“The Jirga will only succeed if the views of all sides are considered during the process. There should be no sell-out of the Afghan Constitution, which guarantees individual and collective freedom, social justice and the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.”
— Faizullah Zaki, deputy chairman of the Junbish Party and MP from Jawzjan Province
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