PESHAWAR, Nov 20: A peace jirga organised by the Awami National Party here on Monday urged Pukhtuns to stop bloodshed in the areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan where they are in majority, and to work for unity within their ranks.

“International security measures and regional governments have failed to establish peace. Now it is our duty to establish unity for the sake of our national survival and press all the governments to work for peace in our region,” said a resolution unanimously adopted at the Pukhtun Peace Jirga held at the Bacha Khan Markaz.

JUI-F, JUI-S, Jamaat-i-Islami, PML-N, PPP (Sherpao), Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) and other parties attended the jirga.

The resolution also denounced interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and urged the Afghans to resolve their differences through dialogue. Peace was not only vital for the Afghans, but for the whole region, it added.

The resolution also called for peace in the tribal area and demanded of the foreigners to leave it. It also called for extending the Political Parties Act to Fata so that political activities could be started there.

Speaking on the occasion, ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan said the participation of all political parties in the jirga was a proof of its success. “It also shows that the entire nation wants peace and tranquillity,” he said.

“We are fighting a war which is not ours. The US first used the region against the Russians, and now it is using it against Taliban and Al Qaeda," he said.

He criticised President Gen Pervez Musharraf for his remarks that Pukhtun were Taliban. “Pukhtuns are a peaceful nation while Taliban are the creation of army,” he said.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JUI-F chief and leader of opposition in the National Assembly, opposed the government support for the US in its war against terrorism.

"Durand Line had been drawn by the British government, and the presence of 80,000 troops in the tribal area is a violation of the Gumak agreement," he said.

He said that world powers had coined different terminologies such as moderate, extremist, fundamentalists, traditionalists, just for the sake of dividing the Muslim world. “The need of the hour is to get united and foil such attempts of world powers,” he added.

Local journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai said that the 28-year-old war in Afghanistan resulted in the killing of 1.5 million Pukhtuns and displacement of another five million.

He called upon the US, the Nato and Al Qaeda to leave Afghanistan and allow the Afghans to decide their future.

In his address, Dr Farooq Khan advised the Pukhtuns to take decisions with wisdom, tolerance and justice.

PML-N secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the present rulers had endangered the integrity and solidarity of the country, and now it was the responsibility of the political forces to launch a joint struggle against army’s role in politics and force them back to the barracks.

PKMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, JI’s provincial chief Sirajul Haq, Jamal Shah, Sardar Ali Takar, Sarwar Khan Kakar and others also spoke to the participants of the jirga.