The formation of the High Peace Council was “a significant step towards peace talks,” a statement from Karzai’s office said.
The move is one of the most significant steps Karzai has taken in his oft-stated efforts to open a dialogue with the Taliban leadership aimed at speeding an end to the long war.
Karzai’s plan to create the High Peace Council was approved in June at a “peace jirga” in Kabul attended by community, tribal, religious and political leaders from across the country.
The council was mooted as a negotiating body, to be made up of representatives of a broad section of Afghan society, to talk peace with the Taliban.
Officials met Karzai at his palace on Saturday to finalise the list of members, who would include “jihadi leaders, influential figures and women,” the statement said.
The complete list of members would be announced after the Eid holiday, in mid-September, it said. Britain welcomed this announcement, saying peace would not be achieved by military means alone.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office in London said: “We warmly welcome today’s announcement. We will not bring about a more secure Afghanistan by military means alone.”
The spokesman added that the move was “rooted in the Afghan people’s desire for peace through negotiation.
“We have always said that a political process is needed to bring the conflict in Afghanistan to an end.”
Britain has around 10,000 troops in Afghanistan and is the second-largest contributor to the 150,000-strong international force battling Taliban militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2010.
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