Peshawar to host Pak-Afghan peace jirga

PESHAWAR:

In the backdrop of heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a major peace Jirga will be held in Peshawar on March 31 under the joint auspices of the non-political organisation Aspire Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the National Reform Movement.

The Pak-Afghan Peace Jirga will bring together prominent figures from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Afghan leaders based in Pakistan, national and political leaders, tribal elders, religious scholars, civil society representatives, business community members, and media persons.

These views were expressed by former Chief Secretary and President of Aspire, Arbab Shahzad Khan, while addressing a press conference on Saturday alongside Haji Sohrab Ali Khan, President of the National Reform Movement.

Arbab Shahzad Khan stressed that severe tensions currently exist between Pakistan and Afghanistan, making the holding of a peace Jirga an urgent necessity at this critical time.

"Afghanistan and Pakistan share an almost identical culture, common religious bonds, and the same languages," he said, adding that war is never a solution to any problem.