Pakistan, Afghanistan Jirga Commissions Talk on Security Issues    
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: The Jirga commissions of Pakistan and Afghanistan held a first meeting here Monday on issues of peace and security in the areas along both sides of the common border.

The talks will be resumed on Tuesday after which a joint declaration would be issued.

The two sides discussed constitution of a joint grand peace jirga commission, the situation in the border areas and mutual cooperation in the fight against terrorism, an interior ministry official said.

Both sides exchanged views during the meeting that lasted more than three years in a congenial atmosphere, the official said.

The five-member Pakistani jirga commission was led by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and it included Governor NWFP Lt-Gen (Retd) Ali Jan Aurakzai, Governor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, Minister for SAFRON Yar Mohammad Rind and Minister for Culture G.G. Jamal.

The nine-member Afghan jirga commission was headed by Pir Sayed Ahmed Gilani.●