Public support is crucial for major national decisions as they also directly affect the lives of ordinary citizens. In democratic societies, people have to be part of such decisions, and there are different forms of platforms and mechanisms depending on individual societies to involve people. In Afghanistan, the Loya Jirga or grand assembly provides a platform for people to take part in major national decisions. Even though all Afghans want peace, disagreements about the approach to peace still exist. To bridge the gap and forge a consensus, convening of Loya Jirga is a step forward.
The National Unity Government, which has largely been sidelined so far in peace talks, has decided to hold a consultative Loya Jirga to build a consensus in the country vis-a-vis the peace talks. Addressing a peace conference last Monday in Kabul, President Ghani said that a grand assembly would be convened next month to hold comprehensive consultations about peace. The move has been widely welcomed, with former President Hamid Karzai stating that the convention is a positive step towards solidifying peace efforts and steering the country out of the current challenges and woes.
Loya Jirga can prove effective for consensus building on peace. There has been some progress towards finding a political solution to the Afghan conflict, yet the stances of various sides remain divided in connection with the approach how to pursue peace talks. The government and a group of political leaders outside the government are at odds over peace. Government leadership, especially President Ghani, views the efforts of the opposition leaders as a conspiracy, and therefore Loya Jirga is the best opportunity to unify the stances. The participants of the assembly can hold comprehensive discussions about peace, and how Afghanistan can achieve it, and make decisions that can best serve the country’s national interests.
Now that the government is set to call the Loya Jirga, all Afghan political groups and figures should work together to organize a Loya Jirga in which the real representatives of people can partake. Additionally, the government and all politicians should respect the resolution of Loya Jirga, and peace talks must proceed in line with its decisions.