Karzai Tells Afghan Loya Jirga That US Not To Be Trusted -- Christian Science Monitor
Apparently, today's loya jirga doesn't have final say on whether a deal to keep US forces in the country after all.
After more than a year of negotiations on extending the US military presence in Afghanistan, a draft agreement was reached between the government of President Hamid Karzai and the Obama administration yesterday. The US gets immunity from Afghan prosecution for its troops. Afghanistan gets an open-ended commitment from the US to train, equip, and fund its security services.
The draft was hailed by Secretary of State John Kerry, and it was left with one last hurdle to full acceptance: the approval of an Afghan loya jirga – a meeting of tribal notables from across the country – that convened in Kabul this morning. Or so it seemed.
Not for the first time, the mercurial President Karzai threw a spanner in the works. Karzai, who rose to power with US military and financial support but has taken to attacking US involvement in Afghan affairs, told the conference that the US is not to be trusted. He also indicated that regardless of the loya jirga's decision, approving the agreement will be up to his successor, who will be chosen in a presidential election scheduled for next April.
Read more ....
Update: Hamid Karzai stalls on Afghanistan troop deal as he says he 'doesn't trust' US -- The Telegraph
My Comment: Unbelievable .... but such is the state of affairs between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
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