a grand council or grand assembly used to resolve political conflicts or other national problems; "he convened a Grand Jirga that persuaded tribal leaders to acquiesce"

a traditional body dating from the eighteenth century in Afghanistan

(Pashto) Great Council; the highest representative institution in the Afghan state.

Pashto phrase meaning “grand council.” A loya jirga is a political meeting usually used to choose new kings, adopt constitutions, or decide important political matters and disputes.

In this report, "loya jirga" refers to the meeting of delegates convened in Kabul in mid-June 2002 to appoint the Afghan Transitional Administration. Loya jirga is a Pashto phrase meaning "grand council," and is a traditional Afghan mechanism in which leaders meet to choose new kings, adopt constitutions, and decide important political matters and disputes.

Loya jirga, occasionally loya jirgah, is a large meeting held in Afghanistan, originally attended by Pashtun groups but later including other ethnic groups.