Source: Loya Jirga.com

What is Loya Jirga?
LOYA JIRGA or "Grand Assembly" is the traditional method Afghans have used throughout history to solve their political crises.

It is the ONLY political process honored and accepted by all the ethnic and religious groups of Afghanistan as the legitimate method to select a representative government that will be recognized and followed by all Afghans.

The way to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan will be achieved through new, honorable leadership that is selected by the will of the Afghan people through a Loya Jirga.

History of Loya Jirga
The word "Jirga," meaning a circle of people, is used in Afghanistan for various kinds of consultative gatherings. Tribal and local jirgas are held often to settle everyday disputes among individuals or tribes. A Loya Jirga, or a Grand Assembly refers to a national gathering in which matters of national scale and importance are discussed and settled. This traditional method stems from both pre-Islamic local practices and the Islamic/Arab concept of "shura," or consultation.

Modern history of Afghanistan has recorded several important Jirgas. For example, in 1709, when the western and southwestern parts of what is today Afghanistan were under the rule of the Persian Safavid dynasty (1501-1722), Mir Ways Hotaki (r. 1709-1715), one of the chiefs of the Ghilzai tribe of Qandahar called on the people of Qandahar, Farah and Sistan to secretly gather and decide on rebelling against the tyrannical foreign governor of the region. As a result of the decisions made by representatives in this gathering in which Mir Ways was selected as their head and plans to gain independence were drawn in detail, the occupation forces and their governor were wiped out and independence was achieved.

Shortly after the Qandahar Jirga, the people of Heart, headed by Abdullah Khan, chief of the Abdali tribe, revolted against the Persian governor of that province and after defeating the occupation army, declared Heartís independence in 1717. Abdullah Khan, who was chosen by elders of all Herati tribes as the new ruler, immediately convened a Jirga in which important state affairs, including the creation of a permanent army, were discussed. Two years later, another Jirga was convened in Heart in the year 1719. This Jirga chose Zaman Khan Abdali as the new ruler.

The independent rules of the Hotakis in Qandahar and the Abdalis in Heart folded as a new regional conqueror, Nadir Shah Afshar (r. 1730-1747), began his march on the territory that constitutes todayís Afghanistan. After the death of Nadir Afshar, Ahmad Khan Abdali, son of Zaman Khan of Heart, called for a Jirga to decide on the questions of leadership and independence of the region. The Jirga was convened in 1747, at the shrine of Shayr-i Surkh, near Qandahar. The majority of the representatives from Qandahar and the surrounding areas voted for Ahmad Khan as their new ruler. After this vote of confidence, he declared himself Ahmad Shah Durrani and began laying the corner stone of what soon became the Durrani Afghan empire.

Similar Jirgas were held on several occasions throughout the 1800ís deciding on matters such as declaring war on foreign invaders and acceptance of a new ruler. However, the Loya Jirga, with the composition and scale that is known today among the Afghans, was first convened in 1924, by the Afghan monarch of the period, Amir Amanullah Khan (r. 1919-1929). This Loya Jirga was officially opened in Kabul, but held its meetings for the next eleven consecutive days in the summer resort town of Paghman (about 12 miles northwest of the capital). Altogether 1054 delegates represented all tribes, ethnic and sectarian groups, spiritual leaders, religious scholars, khans and high-ranking government officials. They discussed and deliberated on issues ranging from foreign policy direction to the draft the first Afghan constitution. The decisions of the 1924 Loya Jirga resulted in the passing of the constitution and in providing the government with a general outline for its policies. A transcript of all the discussions in this Loya Jirga was published and distributed throughout the country, setting a precedence for the future major Loya Jirgas.

In 1928, after his return from a European tour, Amir Amanullah Khan once again called for a Loya Jirga. He wished to secure the nationís vote of confidence for himself and for his fast-paced reform program. 1,100 delegates participated in this Loya Jirga and in addition to the traditional representatives, efforts were made to include the young generation of Afghans as well. Another daring innovation during the Loya Jirga of 1928 was the kingís statements in favor of womenís rights. Despite emotional debates and refusal of several royal proposals, the Loya Jirga ended with a number of substantive rulings concerning social and legal reforms.

Several elements, including the Amirís radical modernization agenda contributed in his downfall in 1929 and the short-lived rise to power of Habibullah Kalakani (r. January to October 1929). By the end of the year 1929, Nadir Khan, a distant cousin of Amir Amanullah and his ambassador to Paris, succeeded in defeating Habibullah and capturing the seat of power. Nadir Khan (r. 1929-1933) was immediately declared king, and to follow the traditional path, convened a Loya Jirga in the year 1930. In this Loya Jirga 301 delegates from all parts of the country participated and along with some basic policy issues, passed a new constitution. The constitution of 1930 governed as the law of the land until 1964.

Nadir Shah was assassinated in 1933 and his son, Mohammad Zahir, became the new monarch (r. 1933-1973). In the heat of World War II, when Afghanistan was pressured by both the Allied and the Axis powers to join the war, His Majesty Zahir Shah convened a Loya Jirga in which his Prime Minister proposed the governmentís policy of neutrality. Members of the 1941 Loya Jirga voted for the principle of non-alignment and, therefore, kept Afghanistan neutral throughout World War II.

In 1963 Zahir Shah oversaw the drafting of a new constitution. A consultative commission comprised of experts including two women was appointed to examine and fine-tune the draft constitution before it could be presented to the representatives of the nation. The King convened a Loya Jirga in September of 1964 to study, discuss and approve the new constitution. The 452 members of the Loya Jirga included elected representatives, members of the parliament, senators, members of the cabinet of ministers and other high-ranking government officials, members of the constitutionís drafting committee and the consultative commission, and finally, a number of individuals who were appointed by the king, including influential spiritual and religious leaders and four women. After several days of debate and deliberation, members of the 1964 Loya Jirga passed the new constitution. This constitution ushered in a new era of democracy and economic, political and social development in Afghanistan.

After the coup dí tat of July 1973 and the overthrow of the constitutional monarchy, the president of the newly established republic supervised the drafting of yet another constitution and convened a Loya Jirga in 1977 to pass it. In the 1980s, during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, attempts were made to use the institution of Loya Jirga as a means of legitimizing client regimes of the Soviets that were unacceptable to the people of Afghanistan, but to no avail. In the recent years, various formulae for the establishment of peace have been tried and failed.

The people of Afghanistan, tired of the prolonged war and drained by the continuous exploitation of warlords and foreign powers, wish to return to the traditional method of solving their national problems and would like to have a chance to once again use the historic institution of Loya Jirga as a forum in which to voice their opinions and decide on their own future.