Afghan President Hamid Karzai has written to Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asfandayar Wali Khan asking them for their support to stem a growing Taliban insurgency.
Karzai, a Pashtun himself, has sent letters to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the opposition in National Assembly and a leading pro-Taliban cleric, and to Pashtun nationalist leader Asfandayar Wali Khan, urging them to help restore peace in southern Afghanistan.
"He has asked me to use my influence to cope with the situation in eastern and south-eastern parts of Afghanistan," Rehman told Reuters on Friday. "I have not yet responded to his letter and will do so after consulting my party leadership."
Fazlur Rehman's party Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F) group has influence among madrasas that belong to Taliban. Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandayar said Karazi wrote to him and spoke with him on Thursday.
"Right now two forces are operating in the region. One is promoting war, hatred and isolation while the other is trying for peace and harmony," Khan told Reuters. "We are in the latter camp and I have assured Karzai that we are ready to play our role in making the jirga successful."
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