Loya Jirga begins debating deal with US

Loya Jirga started the debate on Thursday and it is to discuss the details of the draft agreement over the next four days.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and most of his cabinet members will be attending Loya Jirga, a traditional Afghan assembly of elders consisting of some 2,500 Afghan tribal leaders from all over the country.

Addressing the participants, Karzai said the assembly will only discuss the security agreement during its deliberations.

“It (the assembly) has no other agenda and I hope that no other agenda will be discussed in it,” the Afghan president stated.

On Wednesday, the Afghan Foreign Ministry released the draft of the agreement, which would also grant the US forces in Afghanistan immunity from prosecution under the Afghan law if approved. Potential criminal activity by the US troops will be investigated at American courts instead of Afghan courts.

According to the BSA wording, “the United States shall have the exclusive right to exercise jurisdiction” over its forces “in respect of any criminal or civil offenses committed in the territory of Afghanistan.”

Afghans reject the deal, saying it compromises the sovereignty of Afghanistan and their national pride.

If the Afghan council ratifies the deal, it will be sent to the Afghan parliament for final approval.

The agreement has been subject to months of intense negotiations.

The presence of US-led forces in Afghanistan has generated deep anti-US sentiments among Afghans.

DB/HSN/HJL

Source Article from http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/11/21/335819/loya-jirga-begins-debating-deal-with-us/

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