Thousands gather in Kabul for Afghan peace meeting
Issued on: Modified:
Thousands of tribal leaders, religious figures and politicians from across Afghanistan gathered 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, in a bid to set possible conditions under which they might accept a peace settlement.The loya jirga -- literally "grand assembly" in Pashto -- is being held over four days as the US and Taliban are discussing a possible foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and various Taliban pledges.