2007年VOA标准英语-Pakistan, Afghanistan to Hold Landmark Assembly（在线收听）
By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad, Pakistan
03 August 2007
Pakistani and Afghan leaders will meet August 9-12 to discuss cross-border security issues in a landmark assembly or grand jirga. The four-day talks come as extremists continue to inflict heavy casualties in both countries. From Islamabad VOA, correspondent Benjamin Sand reports.
The talks were organized last year during a rare meeting between the Afghan and Pakistani presidents in Washington.
Pakistani, Afghan and US leaders
Relations between the South Asian neighbors are at a low. Both sides blame the other for a surge in violence that has affected the entire region.
Afghanistan's six-year Taleban insurgency is bloodier than ever. More than 6,000 people have been killed in the past 18 months.
Afghan officials say most of the militants are based in hidden camps inside Pakistan.
But Pakistani officials insist it is a two way street. They say Afghanistan's insecurity is destabilizing both sides of the border.
In July, pro-Taleban militants battled government forces in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. More than 100 people died in the eight-day stand-off.
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| Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheem |
U.S. officials strongly back the talks. Both countries are critical allies in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.
But security experts in Afghanistan and Pakistan say the jirga will likely not produce major breakthroughs. Retired Pakistani General Talat Masood is among those who expect modest progress. "In a best-case scenario we could think that they are showing a renewed commitment," he said. "They are showing the urgency and the great threat that this region is facing."
More than 700 people are expected to attend the jirga in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Participants will include political leaders from both countries as well as tribal elders and prominent religious figures.
In the coming months, a similar jirga is to be held in Pakistan.