Kabul hosts mass gathering of Afghan tribal leaders
Sally Sara reported this story on Thursday, November 17, 2011 08:21:00
TONY EASTLEY: In Afghanistan more than 2,000 delegates have braved threats from the Taliban and attended the opening of a mass gathering of elders and tribal leaders from across the country.
Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai urged delegates at the traditional meeting known as a loya jirga to support a security pact with the United States. But he's warned the deal would come with some conditions.
Afghanistan correspondent Sally Sara reports from Kabul.
(Sound of army band playing)
SALLY SARA: An Afghan army band did its best to wrestle with the national anthem.
More than 2,000 delegates from across Afghanistan rose to their feet.
Outside hundreds of police guarded the giant meeting tent.
Inside there were prayers for the days of discussions ahead.
(Sound of person singing prayer)
The loya jirga is a traditional Afghan gathering. But this one is dealing with some very modern political issues.
President Hamid Karzai is urging delegates to support his plans for a security pact with the United States. But he says the Americans are not staying in Afghanistan for nothing.
(Sound of Hamid Karzai speaking)
SALLY SARA: President Karzai told the crowd the US benefits from staying and no-one stays just for the brothers and sisters of Afghanistan.
His delivery went down well with the local audience as he bragged that America should treat Afghanistan as a lion and that he won't accept anything else.
(Sound of Hamid Karzai speaking followed by applause)
SALLY SARA: There was limited detail on how the security pact will work or President Karzai's vision for the future.
Delegates arrived at the loya jirga despite death threats from the Taliban.
National Directorate of Security spokesman Lutfullah Mashal is hopeful the event won't be hit by insurgents.
LUTFULLAH MASHAL: Enemies of peace and stability in Afghanistan are trying their best to create security problems - carry out suicide attacks, shot rockets - to derail the process.
SALLY SARA: But some women haven't even been given the chance to take part in the gathering.
Jirga spokeswoman Safia Sediqi says women make up only 18 per cent of the delegates and some provinces didn't nominate any females to participate.
SAFIA SEDIQI: We were promised to the government of Afghanistan to bring 25 per cent of the jirga representative from the women. But unfortunately we could not cover that.
SALLY SARA: The loya jirga will continue until the weekend. Parts of the capital are on lockdown until the meeting is over because of fears of terrorist attacks.
This is Sally Sara in Kabul for AM.
Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai urged delegates at the traditional meeting known as a loya jirga to support a security pact with the United States. But he's warned the deal would come with some conditions.
Afghanistan correspondent Sally Sara reports from Kabul.
(Sound of army band playing)
SALLY SARA: An Afghan army band did its best to wrestle with the national anthem.
More than 2,000 delegates from across Afghanistan rose to their feet.
Outside hundreds of police guarded the giant meeting tent.
Inside there were prayers for the days of discussions ahead.
(Sound of person singing prayer)
The loya jirga is a traditional Afghan gathering. But this one is dealing with some very modern political issues.
President Hamid Karzai is urging delegates to support his plans for a security pact with the United States. But he says the Americans are not staying in Afghanistan for nothing.
(Sound of Hamid Karzai speaking)
SALLY SARA: President Karzai told the crowd the US benefits from staying and no-one stays just for the brothers and sisters of Afghanistan.
His delivery went down well with the local audience as he bragged that America should treat Afghanistan as a lion and that he won't accept anything else.
(Sound of Hamid Karzai speaking followed by applause)
SALLY SARA: There was limited detail on how the security pact will work or President Karzai's vision for the future.
Delegates arrived at the loya jirga despite death threats from the Taliban.
National Directorate of Security spokesman Lutfullah Mashal is hopeful the event won't be hit by insurgents.
LUTFULLAH MASHAL: Enemies of peace and stability in Afghanistan are trying their best to create security problems - carry out suicide attacks, shot rockets - to derail the process.
SALLY SARA: But some women haven't even been given the chance to take part in the gathering.
Jirga spokeswoman Safia Sediqi says women make up only 18 per cent of the delegates and some provinces didn't nominate any females to participate.
SAFIA SEDIQI: We were promised to the government of Afghanistan to bring 25 per cent of the jirga representative from the women. But unfortunately we could not cover that.
SALLY SARA: The loya jirga will continue until the weekend. Parts of the capital are on lockdown until the meeting is over because of fears of terrorist attacks.
This is Sally Sara in Kabul for AM.
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