Former President Hamid Karzai opposes with the convening of the upcoming Consultative Loya Jirga on Peace, saying it is better to postpone the Jirga until a peace agreement with the Taliban insurgent group.

Karzai said in a statement released on Saturday that he has specific reasons why this Jirga will not help Afghanistan at the current situation to reach a "national consensus".

He reasons that most of the politicians including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have boycotted the Consultative Jirga because they have concerns regarding the objective and timeline of the Jirga.

He further says the Taliban has also rejected the Jirga and it will not help the peace and reconciliation process.

Referring to the recent talks between Afghan politicians and Taliban in Moscow, direct talks between the U.S. and Taliban representatives in Doha, and the latest trilateral meetings between U.S., Russia and China representatives in Washington and Moscow, he emphasizes that there is major progress in the Afghan peace process.

"Based on these realities, I suggest H.E. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani postpone the convening of this Jirga in order to avoid any possible negative impacts on the ongoing peace efforts," Karzai concludes the statement thanking Loya Jirga participants for coming to Kabul to attend the Jirga.

The Consultative Peace Jirga is due to be organized on April 29 in the capital Kabul where around 3,000 people from all walks of society will come together to discuss peace and reconciliation with the Taliban insurgent group.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/10920

*	NAME
*	COMMENT
4 DIGITS BELOW
*

	Taliban�s new law bans women�s voices and faces
	Western Kabul residents say Taliban has failed to ensure security after bombing
	Formation of the Federalist Assembly of Afghanistan
	Taliban: Afghanistan Does Not Have Formal Border With Pakistan
	Pedram: The Abduction of Hazara and Tajik Women Recalls the Crimes of Abdur Rahman
	Special envoys from G7 countries discuss Afghanistan in London meeting
	UNAMA report: 49 Hazara community members killed in Afghanistan in three months
	Generations of Pakistan and Afghanistan who fell victim to suicide attacks
	UNAMA urges increased protection for Afghanistan�s Hazara community after Kabul attack
	Explosion reported in Kabul , casualties still unknown