Afghan jirga appeals to Taliban to break off from Al Qaeda

Kabul, June 5 (ANI): Afghanistan's first national peace convention or jirga has issued a direct appeal to the Taliban and other insurgents to break with Al Qaeda.

It also called on foreign governments to announce a series of goodwill gestures to end detentions and bombardments and to remove Taliban leaders from a wanted list.

According to the New York Times, the Participants said they were convinced that if the government took up their recommendations, Afghanistan could find a way toward peace.

"The result is good, it's positive, and it will bring peace," said Haji Bishmillah Khan, from the southern province of Kandahar, the spiritual homeland of the Taliban.

"We included points that are favorable for the opposition, and that's why we are expecting them to come to peace negotiations," he added.

The concluding document and its united message could strengthen the position of President Hamid Karzai, both with his foreign backers and within Afghanistan.

More than 300 women took part in the jirga, and according to many delegates, they spoke out strongly in support of peace, while insisting that women's rights achieved over the last eight years be respected.

Under Afghan tribal tradition, when women appeal for peace, men are honor-bound to listen. (ANI)