3,000 people discuss peace with Taliban at Afghanistan’s largest ‘loya jirga’

Tribal leaders, religious figures and politicians from across Afghanistan gathered on Monday in Kabul amid tight security to discuss the war and American efforts to forge a peace deal with the Taliban.

More than 3,000 people were attending the rare “loya jirga,” which is being billed as the largest in modern Afghan history, AFP reported. The participants will set possible conditions under which they might accept a peace settlement.

The loya jirga, or “grand assembly” in Pashto is being held over four days. The US and Taliban are discussing a possible foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and various Taliban pledges.