Tribal chiefs to meet at Kabul 'peace jirga'

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf yesterday pulled out of a planned council of hundreds of Pakistani and Afghan tribal leaders aimed at reining in militant violence now plaguing both countries.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a statement that Musharraf had phoned his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai yesterday to say he can't attend because of "engagements" in Islamabad, and that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will take his place.

The absence of Musharraf, Pakistan's army chief and most powerful figure, could further undermine the effectiveness of the "peace jirga" due to start in Kabul today with more than 600 tribal leaders attending.