A
jirga (occasionally
jarga or
jargah;
Pashto: ) is a traditional assembly of leaders that make decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of
Islam. It predates modern-day written or fixed-laws and is conducted to settle disputes among the
Pashtun people but to a lesser extent among other nearby groups that have been influenced by Pashtuns (historically known as
Afghans). Its primary purpose has been to prevent tribal war. Most jirgas are conducted in
Afghanistan but also among the Pashtun tribes in neighboring
Pakistan, especially in
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).