Pakistan will invite the Afghan jirga commission for talks to lay grounds for the much-awaited tribal jirgas for peace in Afghanistan, an official statement said Saturday.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the Pakistan jirga commission, which was held under the chairmanship of Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, according to the ministry's statement.

"The Pakistan jirga commission decided to invite for discussion on the way forward the 'Regional Peace Jirga Preparatory Commission of Afghanistan' to visit Islamabad during the month of February," it said.

Sherpao will extend an invitation to Pir Syed Ahmad Gillani, chairman of the Afghan jirga commission, it said.

The Pakistan jirga commission resolved to pursue further the initiative put forward by Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Kabul on Sept. 6, 2006 to help Afghanistan in combating violence and militancy on its soil, the statement said.

"Various proposals ere discussed in this regard. Members showed their keen desire to help in stabilizing situation in Afghanistan and also in the adjoining tribal areas in Pakistan," it said. "It was agreed that a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the entire region. No efforts shall be spared in achieving the desired objectives."

The Pakistani jirga commission said that it had decided to meet frequently in order to remove all impediments in achieving peace and normalcy in Afghanistan at the earliest.

Source: Xinhua