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CRISISWEB NEWS
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Thursday, 16 May 2002
AFGHANISTAN
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The Loya Jirga: One Small Step Forward?
The hopes of almost all Afghans, and the world at large, that the peace
process in Afghanistan will continue to move forward are focussed on the
Emergency Loya Jirga (Grand National Council), to be held in Kabul, 10-
16
June. However expectations are unreasonably high, and the danger of
missteps
is grave. International officials, especially the UN Mission running the
process, are devoting much attention to procedural fairness, especially
delegate selection, but too little attention to ensuring a fair
outcome. If
the Loya Jirga does not carefully rebalance power arrangements made in
Bonn
six months ago while heavy fighting still raged between Coalition and
Taliban/al-Qaeda forces, the country's power brokers may reject the
result,
and fragile stability could dissolve into new hostilities. Security,
resources and an international community sometimes working at cross-
purposes
are key problems identified by ICG. An increase in factional fighting
must
be addressed both diplomatically and militarily and the international
community must use its influence in a unified fashion to push forward,
towards stability.
For the full report, visit www.crisisweb.org