The decisions of the Pashtun Jirga have led to nothing. Why?
Author: Ahmad Saidi, an expert on Afghanistan and regional issues (Switzerland), especially for "Sangar"
Who has an answer to this question and who can answer why this happened?
Last year, on October 11, the Pashtun Defense Movement (PTM) Jirga under the leadership of Manzoor Pashteen was held in Peshawar with great pomp at the national and international levels. At the same jirga, Mufti Munir Shakir, who was among the supporters of this jirga, made fiery statements.
At that time, many people on both sides of the Durand Line were attached to this Jirga, and propaganda reached its peak, claiming that this Jirga could determine the fate of the region. However, this did not happen, and the fate of the region became worse and worse. It has been 25 days since the Torkham gates were closed and the situation is becoming more and more difficult with each passing day. There have been more killings, massacres, and clashes. For example, Mufti Munir Shakir, a prominent figure who was always known for his truthfulness, the founder of Lashkar-e-Islam, and a staunch supporter of this jirga, was killed along with Mawlawi Abdullah and several others. Now, what will happen to the rest of the supporters of this jirga?
Of course, I know that Pashteen is alive, but I do not know where he is or what he is doing, which means that there is absolute silence now.
However, these killings, massacres, and clashes are related to the beliefs of the mullahs and clerics who call themselves Deobandi, Salafi, Barelvi, Panjpiri, etc., but considering each other infidels, they kill each other. For example, Hamidulhaq, the head of the Haqqania school, also fell victim to the same feud some time ago. Now it seems that instead of killing soldiers, they have started killing mullahs. Let's hope for the best.
Anyway, I present to you the decisions taken in that Jirga.
1 - If the Pakistan Army, the Taliban (TTP), ISIS, and any other armed group do not leave the Pashtun areas within two months, the Pashtuns will rise and drive them out of their areas by force.
2 - A Pashtun National Army will be formed. Each party and borough will contribute three thousand unarmed youth to this army, which will protect the Pashtun homeland.
3 - The Jirga decided that travel between the two sides of the Durand Line would be the same as in the past and that trade along this line between the two sides would be free and without passports and visas.
4 - The bans on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) should be lifted.
5 - Pashtuns should not be discriminated against in other provinces.
6 - The price of each unit of electricity in the tribal areas should be free and in other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it should be five Pakistani rupees (the price of one unit of electricity in the country is sixty Pakistani rupees).
7 - The excess money for electricity that has been taken from the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province more than five rupees and given to other provinces is a debt to Pakhtunkhwa and should be paid to the people of Pakhtunkhwa as soon as possible.
8 - The blocked identity cards or Pashtun identity cards should be unblocked.
9 - The Jirga will form a committee to represent and hear cases of willful and enforced disappearances (Pashtun disappearances in Pakistan) and the issue of martyrs in Pakistan and also in the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. A special committee of lawyers has also been constituted for the return of missing persons and seized and confiscated lands.
10 - The sites and structures in Pashtun areas should belong to the Pashtuns. Those sites and structures in Pashtun areas that cause harm should be blocked. Information and data on this issue should be provided by the appointed and responsible committee.
11 - Pashtuns do not give dan to anyone anymore and if someone forces them, the Jirga will deal with them.
12 - The promises of assistance to the tribal areas should be fulfilled.
13 - The army should not interfere in legal matters.
14 - The tradition of giving away a daughter in exchange for a bad deed has stopped. No girl will be given away as revenge for killing a murderer.
15 - The Jirga takes steps to resolve religious and ethnic conflicts.
16 - All political prisoners should be released immediately.
17 - From Ali Wazir to the last arrested person all detained members of the Jirga should be released immediately. If a member of the Jirga is arrested after this or a similar problem arises, the Jirga will take another very tough decision on this matter.
18 - Practical steps are taken to identify those responsible for the attack on the Jirga participants and to ensure justice for the families of the victims.
19 - The Jirga will resettle the displaced families who want to return to their homes and villages.
20 - Eighty elders from among the members of the Jirga are appointed to implement and ensure compliance with the decisions of the Jirga.
21 - The Afghan Taliban were politely asked to open the doors for girls in the education system.
In any case, it is unfortunate that not only did not a single decision of this Jirga bring any results but on the contrary, even more disgusting and worse actions were taken against each of its decisions.
