What is a jirga?
Q: What is a jirga?
A: A jirga is a tribal meeting of elders that makes decisions by consensus.
Q: Who usually participates in a jirga?
A: It is mainly the Pashtun people who participate in a jirga, but other people who live near the Pashtun also have these meetings to settle disputes.
Q: Where are jirgas most common?
A: Jirgas are most common in Afghanistan and among the Pashtun in Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan.
Q: What is the purpose of a jirga?
A: The purpose of a jirga is to settle disputes by coming to a decision through consensus of the elders who participate.
Q: Does every tribe have jirgas?
A: Not every tribe has jirgas, but they are common among the Pashtun people and those who live near them.
Q: Can decisions made in a jirga be overturned?
A: Decisions made in a jirga are often respected and implemented by the members of the tribe, although they can be challenged in a court of law.
Q: Are jirgas still held today?
A: Yes, jirgas are still held today in certain parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Pashtun people continue to uphold their traditional customs and practices.
