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Kabul, Taliban threats put assembly of tribal elders at risk
The Loya Jirga, a historic meeting of tribal leaders, due tomorrow will discuss the possibility of a dialogue with the armed opposition. Today, a car bomb exploded in a neighbourhood of the capital, injuring 4 people. Police yesterday arrested three suicide bombers.
Kabul (AsiaNews) - A climate of tension reigns in Kabul ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the Loyal Jirga, an important and influential week-long gathering involving more than two thousand men from tribal leaders, religious leaders to politicians to speak about issues related to the economy and dialogue with the Taliban. Today, a bomb exploded in Kabul in the Qarabagh district, injuring 4 people. Yesterday, again in the capital, the security authorities foiled three suicide bombings. One of the suicide bombers was killed, the others were arrested.
AsiaNews sources warn about the risk of another simultaneous attack, after that against the U.S. embassy in Kabul on 13 September, when 30 Taliban succeeded in positioning an arsenal in a building not far from the embassy. "Everyone knows that the extreme wing is opposed to this meeting – the source explains - what is surprising is that the Loya Jirka has always been considered sacred by all the people of Afghanistan, including the Taliban." Despite the climate of tension, sources point out that the people look with hope to the future deliberations of the assembly, given that for the public at large that their authority is above that of parliament.
Convened by President Hamid Karzai, the Loya Jirga will have as its theme the strategic operation agreement with the United States and the possible resumption of dialogue with the Taliban. The negotiations with the armed opposition stopped following the murder of Burhanuddin Rabbani, Chairman of the Afghan Peace Council killed by a suicide bomber on 20 September. (SC)