On May 04, President Hamid Karzai received heads and members of Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Regional Peace and Prosperity Jirga Preparation Commissions (RPPJPC) at the Presidential Palace.

Heads of both commissions presented detailed progress reports to the President on the preparations for the peace and prosperity Jirga between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

They assured the President that notable progress has been achieved and the following decisions have been made:

1. Members of the Jirga from both Afghanistan and Pakistan will comprise people at the national level.
2. Jirga will comprise 700 participants.
3. Jirga will convene on the first week of August.
4. A committee comprising six members will be appointed by Afghanistan and Pakistan to work on preparing the details and procedures for the upcoming Jirga.
5. Afghanistan’s RPPJP commission will visit Pakistan towards the end of May to hold further talks regarding the Jirga.

During the meeting, the President said, “It is a pleasure to welcome you to Afghanistan. The Afghan people want peace and stability in the region, and they wish to have a friendly relationship with their Pakistani brothers.”

“Pakistan’s dignity and prosperity are our dignity and prosperity and the Afghan people are committed to their friendship with their Pakistani brothers.”

The President thanked the people of Pakistan for their kind hospitality during the years of Jihad against the Soviet invasion and said, “I hope the friendship between the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan will deepen and our relationship expand in different areas.”

The President stressed the fight against terrorism and said, “Terrorist activities can harm us all, if an Afghan is martyred in Afghanistan, it will not only harm Afghanistan, it will harm Pakistan as well. It is in our best interest to jointly strive to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity in the region.”