PashtunJirgas, Their Potential in Pak-Afghan Reconciliation and National Reconstruction

Abstract

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have mostly been hostile since 1947. The animosity has grown in complexity from various territorial disputes to frequent allegations of cross-border terrorism in the post-9/11 era. This article first makes a case for involving Jirgas, a traditional dispute resolution mechanism among Pashtuns, for improving peace dialogues between both countries. It presents evidence of the traditional acceptability of Jirgas by Pashtuns on both sides of the border and assesses previous official bilateral attempts of using Jirgas. It then proceeds to propose some new policy recommendations focused on national reconstruction of Afghanistan, which include involvement of the Taliban as an important local stakeholder. The dual key argument then becomes, first, that since Jirgas have long-standing local legitimacy and acceptability both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, using the strength of their social recognition would allow higher-level bilateral negotiations between the neighbours, enhancing the effectiveness of new and locally more credible forms of multi-track diplomacy. Second, reinvigorating the Jirga system would allow the Afghan people themselves to engage in fuller multi-dimensional debates on sustainable modalities for their own future, on terms to be set by them, not outsiders.

Jirga After Militancy: Traditional Social Justice System in Dara Adam Khel Fr Kohat, Pakistan

“…Likewise, Barth (1981:97) identified the importance of Jirga in Pakhtun society by mentioning that the "tribal organization is based on the principles, as realized for political and judicial purposes through the mechanism of the council (Jirga)". The concepts of Jirga and maraka as informal process of conflict resolution interchangeably used between Pakthun of Afghanistan and Pakistan (Ahmed & Yousaf, 2018). However, some Afghan culturally rich specialists on the subject make an imperative division between these two.…”

Exploring the Hidden Custom of Pukhtunwali With Reference to Conflict Resolution Among Pukhtun Society

“…Indeed, even with the scant recorded history of The Jirgas are administered by ancestral seniors, known as the masharan, where issues going from homegrown and ancestral contentions to territorial and public governmental issues are talked about (Khan and Saeed, 2017. The Pashtun history proposes that the Jirga has consistently held a significant spot in the socio-political issue of the Pashtun society (Ahmed and Yousaf, 2018). Notwithstanding, the ancestral mechanism of Jirga and Lashkars (harmony local armies) against the Taliban recommend that these native compromise and change devices actually can possibly assume a part towards accomplishing tough harmony in the area (Yousaf and Poncian 2018).…”

“…A Jirga, a committee of older folks (known as the Masharan), is by a long shot the main fundamental of Pashtunwali, which centers around compromise, exchange, and intervention among the Pashtun people group, the term Jirga alludes to a native debate goal and consideration component followed by the Pashtun clans for quite a long time, and furthermore received as a political establishment by Afghanistan (Ahmed and Yousaf, 2018). It is said that the Jirga directs the lifestyle for the ancestral Pashtuns where choices range from more modest issues of common clash and interest to significant issues relating to international concerns and public legislative issues, Jirga capacities when a contention emerges on nearby, ancestral, or territorial level, with ancestral older folks meeting up, sitting all around, and talking about and settling on the matter (Yousufzai and Gohar, 2005).…”

“…Like Jarga is the organization of Hujra, a mutual space for rehearsing the upsides of Pukhtoonwali (Khattak, 2010). It is utilized as a position of accommodation, a native court, and a space for amusement (Ahmed and Yousaf, 2018).…”

“…Tribe who speaking Pashtu language and living in Pakistan and Afghanistan 2. Pakhtunwali is the code of conduct developed by Pakhtune tribe which are applied on all their Pakhtune 3. Hujra is a common place where Pakhtune set together and discuss the issues, along with this it is a common place where the guests are entertained 4.…”