Afghan president rejects key provision of security deal with US
Iran Press TV
Tue Nov 19, 2013 3:22PM GMT
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has rejected a key proposal of a controversial security agreement with the US, putting the entire deal in jeopardy, Afghan and Western diplomats say.
President Karzai government is refusing to allow US-led forces to enter Afghan homes after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.
'They want a window left open to go into Afghan homes, but the president does not accept that - not unilaterally and not joint,' the Afghan official said, referring to house raids by US-led troops either on their own or with Afghan forces.
This comes while the US Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul have declined to comment on the latest development.
However, a Western diplomat in Kabul with knowledge of the talks confirmed the two sides had reached an impasse. 'It's a very tense time,' media outlets quoted the diplomat as saying.
Some Western sources say tough negotiations are going on to produce a document acceptable to both sides.
The development comes as thousands of Afghan tribal elders and politicians are set to gather in the capital Kabul to discuss the controversial pact with the US on the future of its military presence in the war-torn country.
The pact which is known as the bilateral security agreement (BSA) will determine how many American soldiers would stay in Afghanistan after the planned withdrawal of foreign forces at the end of 2014.
A sticking point is the question of immunity from prosecution for those US troops who remain in the country.
Washington says there will be no deal without immunity while Kabul considers it a violation of its sovereignty.
President Karzai says the Loya Jirga, national consultative assembly of tribal elders is the only institution with the authority to decide on the issue of legal immunity for American service members.
Thousands of security forces have been deployed to protect the four-day gathering. If endorsed by the Loya Jirga, the deal will be put before the parliament.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghan people-- including students, have held demonstrations in the eastern province of Nangarhar against a possible security pact with the US.
The protesters chanted anti-US slogans and blocked a key road between Kabul and the eastern city of Jalalabad.
Meanwhile, scores of people gathered for a meeting in Kabul to voice their opposition to any deal that will prolong the US military presence in their country.
Afghan political figures have also heaped scorn on US-led forces for committing unforgivable crimes against Afghan women and children since invading the country in 2001.
Thousands of Afghan civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed during night raids by foreign forces and CIA-run assassination drone strikes.
The increasing number of casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger against the US and other NATO member states.
JR/PR
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