KABUL, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- Tribal leaders from seven provinces in the eastern and southeastern zone of Afghanistan on Sunday gathered to discuss how to bring peace and stability to their country. Governors, members of the lower and upper houses of the Afghan parliament, members of the provincial assemblies, elders, influential and senior government officials met on Sunday in Nangarhar province to discuss solution to the peace and security problem in their areas. The elders and officials, who assembled during the meeting, which will be concluded on Monday, included representatives from Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika and Khost provinces. All those areas are considered to be the hotbeds of insurgency after the southern zone, which is the stronghold of Taliban militants and comprising provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Uruzgan and Ghazni.
In their first day of deliberations, the elders observed that they should focus on bringing peace to their areas through peaceful means. Most of the participants were in favour of talks with the opponents of the government, the term Afghans used for Taliban, instead of use of force. Some members of the assembly also called for a stoppage of the civilian killings in military operations. According to spokesman for Nangarhar governor Noor Agha Zwak, the participants of the meeting would issue a joint declaration on Monday. The elders have gathered at a time when Afghan officials claimed killing 60 Taliban in one of the province in the southeastern zone the same day. (ends) gk.bz.
KUNA 251727 Nov 07NNNN