'Afghan women Jirga calls for US forces' pullout'
'Dawn' (Pakistan)
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Dec 26: The Afghan Women Jirga, a unique event in the 200 years' history of Afghanistan, has urged the newly-installed political managers in their country to make the equal representation for women as part of the future constitution of the country.
The first-ever women Jirga was organised by the Afghan refugee women with the cooperation extended by the International Law Group and Aurat Foundation here at Nishtar Hall on Tuesday.
Hundreds of refugee women attended the one-day Jirga and made important deliberations on women rights, which, according to them, held no significance in the past; and stressed upon the interim Kabul government to give equal opportunities to half of the humanity in the future development of the country.
Many delegations, representing Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), Afghan Women Council (AWC) and other small groups from Quetta, Islamabad and Peshawar, attended the Jirga.
They welcomed the stay of multinational peacekeeping forces to maintain peace in the country, but demanded the immediate pullout of the US fighting forces from Afghanistan. They said the US fighting forces had no role after the rout of Taliban to stay in their country.
Mrs Shafiqa Siraj, sister of former Afghan monarch Amanullah Khan, presided over the Jirga. Fareed Hameedi welcomed the women delegates at the Jirga. Mrs Siraj opened the proceedings by delivering a brief speech on the occasion.
Dr Malali Salimi explained the objectives of the Jirga, which she termed a unique event in the history of Afghanistan. "We are here to voice our grievances and seek a better place in the future setup of the country, which has been ravaged by the 23-year war and interference by the external powers."
Ms Fatana Gilani of the AWC spoke at length on the protection of human rights and various conferences held in Bonn, Belgium and Tokyo. She termed the Bonn accord a turning-point in the history of Afghanistan, and underlined the statesmanship to be demonstrated at the crucial phase being faced by the leadership in their country.
Saira Sharif dilated upon the long history of Loya Jirga in Afghanistan, which began with the installation of Mir Wais Hotak as first ruler of the country. She said two women had attended the Loya Jirga convened in 1977.
Khursheed Noori read out the text of the Bonn accord, a blueprint for the interim period and an outline for the future setup in Afghanistan. The women delegates discussed various articles of the accord and made some more proposals to be included into the reconstruction plan of the country.
During discussion on the agenda, many of them criticised the ethnic, lingual and regional sentiments, and said these were dangerous for the very existence of the country. They said all Pakhtoons, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras and other lingual groups were an integral part of Afghan nation and their equal well-being was necessary for the development of the country.
They unanimously condemned the foreign interference and shipment of weapons to different factions, and urged the world community to take notice of it.
Later, delegations from Quetta, Islamabad and Attock read out papers, and Nikhat Saeed, a women rights activist from Lahore, expressed solidarity with Afghan women.
Ms Saeed expressed her sorrow over the treatment meted out to Afghan people at the hands of successive Pakistani governments, and hoped that Afghan women would play their effective role in the reconstruction of their country.
The Jirga also made a declaration on women rights and role of women in the future of Afghanistan.
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