Pukhtoon Jirga And Peace in Afghanistan

Some outside observers criticize the Jirga system in Afghanistan as an out-moded traditional system that is no longer valid in a modern nation-state. Unfortunately, Afghanistan is not a modern nation-state and will likely not be one for many years. It is more a weak nation in the midst of an insurgency (some think a civil war is not too far away). In addition, the judiciary and police forces are corrupt, inefficient, and ineffective in providing security, justice, and rule of law to most of the rural areas of Afghanistan. One writer believes that the international community needs to reinvigorate the traditional Jirga system at the community level in an effort to provide justice and peace in Afghanistan. Read more in "The Jirga in modern day Afghanistan", by Ali Gohar of Open Democracy, April 2, 2012.