Afghan peace jirga ends on a positive note

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Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf who wasn't even supposed to attend makes a last-minute appearance to acknowledge Pakistan's role in Afghanistan's insurgency. From the New York Times:

“There is no doubt Afghan militants are supported from Pakistan soil. The problem that you have in your region is because support is provided from our side.” President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan nodded in agreement.

General Musharraf’s words, and his appearance at the final ceremony of the four-day meeting in Kabul, were a sharp turnaround for him.

As the Times went on to say:

[Musharraf's] presence at the final ceremony of the jirga lent weight to the proceedings. In a declaration at the end of their four-day assembly, convened to try to bring peace and stability to the region, the 650 delegates pledged to continue an “extended, tireless and persistent campaign against terrorism” and not to allow terrorist sanctuaries and training camps in their territory.

They agreed to establish a smaller jirga, consisting of 25 representatives from each country, to work on peace with the Taliban and other insurgents who are opposed to the governments of both countries and to continue a dialogue between the countries. They also agreed to urge their governments to combat the narcotics trade in the region.

The 650 delegates, incidentally, were mostly tribal leaders as opposed to politicians.