KABUL - Border and Tribal Affairs Minister Mohammad Gulab Mangal on Thursday said it would be difficult to maintain peace in the country by military means alone without tribes support.
Mangal told reporters here instead military operations and establishment of military bases, it would be better if the government talked to tribal elders about peace in their areas.
Peace could come if tribal elders and influential figures were consulted, he said, adding that “after military operations, security officials declare the targeted area as cleared of militants, but they can’t bring stability without local tribes cooperation.”
The minister said no issue could be resolved by using power and therefore it was needed to involve tribes in the peace talks.
Afghanistan Tribal Councils Coordination Centre secretary Abdul Khaliq Husaini Pashaee said they had prepared a draft in consultation with elders of tribal councils, Taliban and other opposition groups and they would hand over the draft to the president in the near future.
The draft suggested that all illegal armed groups should be disbanded, elders given role in peace talks, people not involved in the war  should be appointed as members of the new jirga, the peace jirga should have international support and the government should facilitate peace talks with militants.
The draft also suggested that Taliban leaders should be removed from the UN blacklist and the militants allowed to open a political office in Kabul and security of officials should be maintained. (Pajhwok)