DUSHANBE, March 22, Asia-Plus -- On Monday March 19, Mehmon Bakhti, Member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) met with visiting delegation of Afghanistan’s Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders or senate) led by Safar Muhammad Kokar.  

In the course of the talks the two exchanged views on state and prospects of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Kokar noted that his country is ready to expand cooperation with Tajikistan in different fields.   

The Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders is the upper house of the bicameral National Assembly of Afghanistan, alongside the Wolesi Jirga (House of the People). 

The Meshrano Jirga has 102 members. One-third of it (34) are elected by district councils (one per province) for 3-year terms, one-third (34) by provincial councils (one per province) for 4-year terms, and one-third (34) are nominated by the president for 5-year terms.  However, elections for the district councils were not held in the 2005 parliamentary elections.  As such, each provincial council also selected one of its elected members to temporarily hold seats in the house until district council elections are held. Half of the presidential nominees have to be women, two representatives from the disabled and impaired and two from the Kochis. 

This house forms more of an advisory role rather than a maker of law.  Still, the house has some veto power.