KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistani media have reported that a joint peace jirga is set to be held in the city of Peshawar, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with the participation of political leaders and tribal elders in an effort to reduce tensions between the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to Geo News, the jirga is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (March 31) in Peshawar.
Citing Shahzad Khan, former secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the outlet wrote that “ political leaders, tribal elders, religious scholars, members of civil society, the business community and media persons” are expected to participate in the jirga.
This political figure said: “The peace jirga will focus on mutual respect, trust-building and serious negotiations for lasting peace,” he said, adding that a joint declaration in favour of peace will also be issued at the end of the jirga, which will be sent to the governments of both countries.
Shahzad Khan said that participants in the jirga will call on the leaders of Pakistan and the Taliban to implement an immediate ceasefire, reduce tensions, and resolve all issues through dialogue and diplomatic channels.
A jirga, a traditional assembly of tribal elders and community leaders, has long been used in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a mechanism to resolve conflicts through consensus and dialogue. Historically, jirgas have successfully mediated disputes ranging from local land conflicts to inter-tribal feuds, relying on respected elders to guide negotiations and enforce agreements.
In 2010, a series of tribal jirgas in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province helped broker ceasefires between rival factions of the Taliban and local communities, reducing violence in the region for several months. By bringing together political leaders, religious scholars, and civil society representatives, a jirga provides a culturally accepted platform where grievances can be aired, trust can be built, and solutions can be reached without immediate recourse to violence.
The conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan has been ongoing for more than a month. During this time, Pakistan has targeted various parts of Afghanistan with air and rocket attacks.
In the most recent case, Pakistan targeted a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, which, according to human rights organizations, resulted in more than 140 people killed and 250 others injured.
The Taliban have also attacked Pakistani border posts and carried out drone strikes on targets inside that country.
During this period, the two sides declared a temporary ceasefire only during the days of Eid al-Fitr, at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey; however, incidents of clashes between the two sides have been reported afterward.
The Taliban have stated that they seek to resolve tensions with Pakistan through diplomatic means, but Pakistani officials have said that they will continue their attacks until their objectives are achieved.
Pakistan and the Taliban, once allies, have clashed repeatedly along the border in recent months after Islamabad accused the Taliban of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) responsible for dozens of deadly attacks inside Pakistan. UN figures indicate at least 289 civilians were killed or injured in Pakistani airstrikes across several provinces since late February, before the Kabul strike.
The escalation marks one of the most serious spikes in tensions between the two sides in recent months. The Taliban authorities have accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty, while Islamabad has previously said its operations target militant groups it claims operate from Afghan territory.
