Pakistani President Withdraws From Peace Conference in Afghanistan
08 August 2007
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has pulled out of a peace assembly in Afghanistan designed to unite local leaders in the fight against Taleban militants.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said General Musharraf telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday, saying engagements in Islamabad would keep him from attending the tribal council (jirga). Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will take General Musharraf's place.
The Afghan ambassador to the U.S., Said Tayeb Jawad, told VOA that President Karzai tried to persuade President Musharraf to change his mind.
The United States is also making an appeal. U.S. officials say they have been in touch with Pakistani authorities to discuss whether the president might still attend part of the four-day conference.
General Musharraf and Mr. Karzai agreed to the peace assembly last year at a White House meeting hosted by President Bush.
The peace conference has already faced setbacks.
Earlier this week, a group of tribal elders from Pakistan's North Waziristan region said they would boycott the assembly, demanding that Pakistani security forces withdraw from their region.
The Taleban also has expressed opposition to the jirga, citing a lack of Taleban representation and calling it a U.S. attempt to gain public support.
Afghan officials say they hope the assembly of more than 700 local politicians, religious leaders and tribal elders will boost cooperation between the two countries.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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