Loya Jirga Backs Afghan-US Partnership

from TOLONEWS, Written by Sonil Haidari 

On the fourth day of the Traditional Loya Jirga in Kabul on Saturday, delegates backed President Hamid Karzai's plan for a long-term partnership with the US after foreign combat troops withdraw from the country at the end of 2014.
The delegates said they supported the long-term agreement with the US but attached some conditions, including the end of night raids by foreign troops.
President Karzai said he in turn would accept the provisos stipulated by the delegates. He said a US-Afghan partnership would benefit the Afghan people.
More than 2,000 delegates attended the four-day traditional Loya Jirga that was conducted amid tight security after the Taliban vowed to disrupt proceedings. They were divided into 40 committees to discuss the negotiations that are currently under way with the US.

Both the US and the Afghan government would like to see a force of several thousand international troops remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 that would advise and train Afghan security forces, and help with counterterrorism operations.
There are currently about 90,000 US troops in Afghanistan.
Delegates also backed Mr Karzai's proposal to continue peace and reconciliation talks with the Taliban, although many delegates said that membership of the peace council, which was set up last year, should be broadened.
Here are the key points emerging from the Traditional Loya Jirga regarding the Afghan-US partnership:
• Foreign troops should not conduct operations without Afghan security forces
• The US should stand by the Afghan government if it is attacked by any third country. This should be clearly mentioned in any long-term agreement
• The US should guarantee that Afghanistan will not turn into a political battlefield after foreign troops withdraw
• No military operations should be launched against third countries from Afghan soil
• US financial aid should be given to Afghanistan as scheduled
• The US should focus on the reconstruction of Afghanistan's infrastructure
• The international community should support the peace process and put pressure on insurgents to leave Afghanistan
• Negotiations should be held with the Taliban and with Pakistan
• The long-term strategic agreement should be valid for ten years and may be extended after further negotiations

Posted in: Afghanistan