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dpa
Kabul
Several influential Afghan politicians have said that they will boycott the upcoming Loya Jirga “grand assembly” that is scheduled to take place in Kabul on April 29.
The politicians include current and former Afghan government members such as Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former head of the National Security Council, Haneef Atmar. Up to 2,500 public representatives from across the country are to take part in the consultative grand assembly to form a national consensus on the red lines of a possible peace deal with the Taliban.
However, Abdullah Abdullah has declined to take part in the assembly, pointing out that his team had not been consulted prior to the decision of holding the assembly.
A source close to Abdullah who wished to remain anonymous said other reasons include monopoly over the management and concerns over the assembly being used for political objectives.
Atmar, who is also a presidential candidate, has said the Jirga is a waste of time and an “effort for an illegal election campaign” by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is running in the upcoming presidential election set for September 28. According to observers, the move will seriously damage the legitimacy of the assembly, as well as the peace process.
The Afghan govt has been making an effort to sit with Taliban, country’s main insurgent group, in order to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The Taliban, who so far have refused to speak to the Afghan government, which the militants call a “puppet regime,” last week said that Afghan officials can attend an upcoming meeting.
Kabul
Several influential Afghan politicians have said that they will boycott the upcoming Loya Jirga “grand assembly” that is scheduled to take place in Kabul on April 29.
The politicians include current and former Afghan government members such as Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former head of the National Security Council, Haneef Atmar. Up to 2,500 public representatives from across the country are to take part in the consultative grand assembly to form a national consensus on the red lines of a possible peace deal with the Taliban.
However, Abdullah Abdullah has declined to take part in the assembly, pointing out that his team had not been consulted prior to the decision of holding the assembly.
A source close to Abdullah who wished to remain anonymous said other reasons include monopoly over the management and concerns over the assembly being used for political objectives.
Atmar, who is also a presidential candidate, has said the Jirga is a waste of time and an “effort for an illegal election campaign” by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is running in the upcoming presidential election set for September 28. According to observers, the move will seriously damage the legitimacy of the assembly, as well as the peace process.
The Afghan govt has been making an effort to sit with Taliban, country’s main insurgent group, in order to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The Taliban, who so far have refused to speak to the Afghan government, which the militants call a “puppet regime,” last week said that Afghan officials can attend an upcoming meeting.
