President Hamid Karzai is treating to lunch delegates from a Grand Assembly that will chart Afghan-istan's future, but even his famed Pashtun hospitality may not be enough to swing them behind his vision of the way forward.
The 500-member Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, gathers today to approve a new constitution to guide Afghanistan to its first free elections, and Karzai wants the assembly to support a strong presidential system.
But many delegates, be they democrats, Islamists or federalists, or from any of Afghanistan's diverse ethnic groups, say they want to see amendments to the draft suggested by Karzai.
They all agree that Afghanistan, battered by 23 years of foreign invasion and civil war, needs a strong central government, but many fear that a strong presidency may open the door to a despot..
"We too want a presidential regime," said Qazi Abdul Sattar, a delegate from the eastern province of Kunar, before heading over to Karzai's Kabul palace for lunch.
"But we would like to have a parliament that can supervise the president," he said.
The heavily bearded ethnic Pashtun spoke outside the massive German-donated tent where the Loya Jirga will meet.
Karzai, installed after US-led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001, insists a strong presidency is essential in a transitional state like Afghanistan, and says he will not stand in June elections if the president's powers are diluted.
Sattar said his views echoed those of counterparts from the east of the country, which is dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, the traditional rulers of Afghanistan.
Several Pashtuns delegates nodded in agreement as he added: "We should not be in a hurry or under pressure to endorse a document which will be our charter for many decades to come."
The Afghan Civil Society Forum, a non-governmental organization, has also called for a limitation of presidential powers, as well as guarantees of equal rights for women and ethnic minorities and dropping the controversial clause ending the right to higher education.
Some may say it is rare for Afghans to be able to reach a consensus on anything, let alone something as critical as a constitution.
But Sattar's views were also greeted with applause from a group of delegates from northern Afghanistan, where the Northern Alliance, which is made up of ethnic minorities and forms the backbone of Karzai's government, is dominant.
Under the draft constitution, parliamentary elections will be held within a year of the presidential election rather than at the same time as originally planned.
"My view and desire is to have a presidential system and a parliament that can monitor the president's activities," said Abdul Ghafar, from Baghlan province.
Some delegates feared their views would be drowned as happened during a Loya Jirga last year which picked Karzai as president amid criticism that US officials used undue influence.
"Now the Americans want continuity," said a delegate who did not want to be identified.
"They can approve a Constitution in whichever way they choose, either through pressure, cheating or distribution of money. But if the document is not worked out on the basis of the majority's demand or plays down the role of Islam, then instability will gradually return to Afghanistan," the delegate said.
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