The second working committee of the Pak-Afghan joint peace jirga in Kabul was tasked with apprising of factors and circumstances, which contribute to the growth of terrorism and militancy. It also devised a mechanism to help Pakistan and Afghanistan combat this "menace" through cooperation and strategy.
Some 700 delegates from the two countries met in Kabul from August 9-12 to discuss ways to eliminate terrorism. The committee put forward the following recommendations for taking the fight on terror to a logical end:- The governments and people of Afghanistan and Pakistan consider terrorism a notorious, anti-human and anti-Islamic phenomenon and believe this to be the evil menace for the people of both countries.
- Participants of the Afghan-Pak joint peace jirga unanimously declare from the platform of this jirga an extensive, comprehensive and unrelenting campaign against terrorism, and regard terrorism and other related inhuman activities as a major threat to humanity and Islam.
- Members of the joint peace jirga propose establishment of a special jirga with a strong mandate and an authority of representatives from executive and legislative of both countries, religious scholars, tribal elders, intellectuals and civil society organisations to ensure practical and sustainable process of the campaign against terrorism. The jirga will meet regularly to:
- Monitor the implementation of decisions made at the joint peace jirga.
- Facilitate convening of the next joint peace jirgas.
- Expedite the ongoing process of dialogue for peace and reconciliation with the opposition.
- Ease visa restrictions and increase efforts for free trade and more people-to-people contacts.
- The war on terror should be accelerated and reinforced in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- The governments and people of Afghanistan and Pakistan undertake not to allow their soil for terrorist activities.
- The governments and people of Afghanistan and Pakistan pledge not to allow sanctuaries for any terrorist group to exist and operate in any part of their countries, and work closely together to coordinate their efforts more effectively in this endeavour.
- The two governments and the international community should start and accelerate economic, social, welfare and educational projects in the areas affected by terrorists and should accelerate the pace of reconstruction and development in those areas.
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