PAKTYA - The long-standing land dispute between two sub-tribes of a local tribe, continued for almost five centuries over 15,000 jiribs (3,000 hectares) of land, has been resolved through negotiations and Jirga system in Paktya province.

Since a couple of centuries, two sub-tribes of the Jaji tribe had hostile relations against each other. Finally, elders from Chamkani district took initiative, intervened and succeeded to find peaceful solution to the dispute.

Hakim Jan Faryadi, an elder from Jaji Aryoub district of the province, said, “Both the rival parties agreed to hand over power to the tribal elders and negotiators from Chamkani district of Paktya province which saved Jaji tribe’s people from a great catastrophe. This decision is unique in nature, resolved dispute without inflicting casualties to any party. We have witnessed many deaths (resulting out of land disputes), but this is a great achievement for all of us”.

Paktya Provincial Council (PC) member Abdul Malik Zazai said, “It would be impossible to settle the problem only between the concerned tribesmen. That’s why they asked Chamkani district elders from Mangal and Moqbal tribes to search for possible solution to their problem”.

Meanwhile, Haji Mozammel, an elder from the Chamkani district and a member of a reconciliation committee, said that the issue was resolved by identifying borders. “Both sides have accepted their decision and no one has so far raised any concern,” he said.

Source: Paktya Magazine (Government-controlled)