Loya Jirga for consultation on peace with the Taliban has been postponed, sources told 1TV on Sunday.
The Jirga, which is expected to gather 2,000 Afghan representatives from across the country, was previously scheduled to be held between March 17 and March 20 in Kabul.
Asadullah Zaeri, deputy spokesman for Afghanistan High Peace Council, confirmed that the gathering could not be held on the scheduled date due to technical problems particularly caused by snowfall and rainfall.
Government’s critics, however, suggested that the Jirga has been postponed due to opposition from Afghanistan’s strategic partners.
Arif Kayani, a spokesman for Mehwar-e-Mardum political party, said that the Jirga has been postponed for two weeks.
Others suggested that the event was postponed due to opposition from political groups.
The plan for the gathering was announced by officials amid peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.
Earlier, Umer Daudzai, head of secretariat of Afghan High Peace Council, said that the gathering’s main aim is to reach a national consensus on negotiation mechanism and determining fundamental lines for peace with the Taliban.
