PESHAWAR – Former Federal Secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan announced the convening of a high-level Pak-Afghan peace jirga scheduled for March 31 in Peshawar. This initiative comes amidst simmering cross-border tensions and a complex regional security landscape.
Specifically, the recently formed think-tank ASPIRE-KP (Advocacy for Sustainable Policy & Implementation Reforms) is spearheading the event. Mr. Shehzad, along with a cohort of retired bureaucrats and academics, established the organization to provide implementable solutions for governance and regional stability.
Engaging Traditional Stakeholders
The Pak-Afghan Peace Jirga seeks to move beyond traditional state-level deadlocks by engaging the true stakeholders of peace. Speaking to the media, Mr. Shehzad emphasized that the current climate of suspicion between Islamabad and Kabul remains detrimental to people on both sides of the Durand Line. Consequently, the organizers have invited approximately 60 notable individuals, including political leaders, tribal elders, and religious scholars.
“Our objective remains simple yet urgent,” Mr. Shehzad stated. He noted that the two nations share a common history, religion, and culture. Therefore, the jirga will focus on mutual respect and confidence-building measures (CBMs) to bridge the existing trust deficit. Furthermore, the participants intend to communicate clearly that war is not a viable option for either country.
A Roadmap for Dialogue
The Peshawar meeting serves as the first in a series of consultative sessions planned by ASPIRE-KP. According to the organizers, the roadmap for the Pak-Afghan Peace Jirga includes the following:
- The session will conclude with a formal communiqué outlining a framework for peace, which both governments will share.
- Provincial Outreach: Following the Peshawar huddle, the group plans similar jirgas for Quetta and other border regions.
- Cross-Border Engagement: The initiative eventually aims to involve Afghan elders to create a unified civilian front against renewed conflict.
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The Role of ASPIRE-KP
The organizers highlighted that ASPIRE-KP provides homegrown policy input to address the current Pak-Afghan impasse. The group consists of former top-tier civil servants who believe that traditional bureaucracy often struggles to facilitate regional diplomacy. Currently, border closures and security skirmishes continue to hamper bilateral trade and cause distress to the local population.
By invoking the traditional institution of the Jirga, the group hopes to find a cultural solution to a modern political crisis. Ultimately, the Pak-Afghan Peace Jirga represents a “track-two” diplomatic approach aimed at restoring stability to the Pakhtun belt.
