Holding of Loya Jirga
Zahir Shah supporters step up efforts

Frontier Post

By AIMAL KHAN
PESHAWAR - Former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah's loyalists have stepped up their efforts to hold Loya Jirga for a negotiated settlement of two-decade long Afghan problem.
Zahir Shah, who was dethroned by his cousin Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan in 1973, has recently expressed his willingness to play a role in a peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis.
The Rome-based former Afghan king held a meeting of prominent Afghan personalities in November last year to give final touches to his latest peace initiatives aimed at bringing all warring factions to one platform.
Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, a renowned Afghan scholar and one of the participants of the Rome meeting, in an interview with The Frontier Post said that hectic efforts were on to hold the proposed Loya Jirga inside Afghanistan.
The Jirga, grand assembly, will comprise representatives with all shades of opinion to decide the future set-up, he remarked.
Ahadi said he was optimistic about the holding of Jirga inside Afghanistan. "Afghans, irrespective of their political affiliation, are appreciating the efforts of former Afghan ruler in this regard," he added.
He disclosed that it was agreed in the Rome meeting to send delegations to Taliban as well as to Iran and Pakistan in this context. "The former king has been assigned with finalising the delegates to be sent ... ," Ahadi explained.
The delegations' will brief Afghanistan , Iran and Pakistan on measures adopted in the meeting. "We also want to these countries' officials into confidence about the Rome meeting decisions and their subsequent follow-up," he added.
About the Taliban's reaction to the Zahir Shah's peace initiatives, Ahadi said formal contacts were yet to be made with the ruling militia leadership.
The Taliban authorities would sooner or later start supporting the peace efforts launched by the former Afghan king.
"In case of Taliban's refusal to facilitate the holding of Jirga in their controlled areas, it will not be a wise decision to organise it in opposition-held territory," he pointed out.
To a question, the pro-Zahir Shah Afghan intellectual conceded that other groups were also aspiring to bring an end to bloodshed in Afghanistan. "The Cyprus meeting is also working in the same direction."
Hamyoun Jareer, chief organiser of Cyprus meeting, visited Zahir Shah's aides in Rome, Ahadi said. "However, we believe both meetings are going parallel to each other," he concluded.