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Afghanistan Loya Jirga to mull US troop deal Afghanistan and US agree text of security deal
(about 1 hour later)
About 2,500 Afghans are gathering in Kabul for a meeting, known as the Loya Jirga, that could help to decide when foreign troops leave the country. The US says it has agreed the text of a bilateral security agreement with Afghan officials.
The delegates will review a proposed bilateral security agreement thrashed out between the US and Kabul. The deal paving the way for some US troops to remain after 2014 will be discussed by delegates at a meeting known as the Loya Jirga on Thursday.
The US insists that any troops left in Afghanistan after 2014 must get immunity from prosecution, otherwise it will completely withdraw. Late on Wednesday the Afghan foreign ministry published a draft deal that would give US troops remaining after 2014 immunity from Afghan courts.
It is not clear whether a final draft has yet been agreed. The US had said all its troops would be withdrawn if no immunity was agreed.
Both sides have refused to budge on certain issues, and Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said the final language "is not ready". "We have reached an agreement as to the final language of the bilateral security agreement that will be placed before the Loya Jirga tomorrow," Mr Kerry said.
A major sticking point is the Afghan side's insistence that the US acknowledges in a letter that mistakes were made during the 12-year war. It was not immediately clear whether Mr Kerry was referring to the draft published by the Afghan foreign ministry.
Correspondents say the row threatens to overshadow the Loya Jirga. Mr Kerry also contradicted earlier reports that Afghanistan had asked for an apology from the US for mistakes made during the 12-year war.
Also, the Afghans have long opposed US raids on Afghan homes, particularly night raids because they are perceived to violate the sanctity of women in the home. "There has never been a discussion of or the word 'apology' used in our discussions whatsoever," he said.
And the US is insisting that any troops remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 receive immunity from prosecution. Both sides had been refusing to budge on certain issues.
The Afghans have long opposed US raids on Afghan homes, particularly night raids because they are perceived to violate the sanctity of women in the home.
And the US had insisted that any troops remaining in Afghanistan after 2014 receive immunity from prosecution.
The failure to resolve a similar jurisdiction issue in Iraq led to a total withdrawal of US forces.The failure to resolve a similar jurisdiction issue in Iraq led to a total withdrawal of US forces.
"Whatever is happening with the security pact is very confusing for us," Abdul Hanan, a senator from eastern Paktia province who will attend the jirga, told Reuters. Loya Jirga delegates had earlier expressed concern at how late the negotiations between the two governments had been going on.
"Whatever is happening with the security pact is very confusing for us," Abdul Hanan, a senator from eastern Paktia province who will attend the jirga, told Reuters before the text was agreed between the two governments.
"It will be very difficult to vote for which drafts [are] for our benefit, we are all confused.""It will be very difficult to vote for which drafts [are] for our benefit, we are all confused."
The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says that there is an increasing probability that rather than the Loya Jirga saying yes or no to an agreed text, it could end up agreeing a deal that the US will not accept.
Security has been tightened for the meeting, after a suicide bomb attack outside the huge tent where it is to be held over the weekend.Security has been tightened for the meeting, after a suicide bomb attack outside the huge tent where it is to be held over the weekend.
US officials said during a meeting of Nato defence ministers in February that the alliance was considering keeping a residual force of 8,000 to 12,000 troops after 2014.US officials said during a meeting of Nato defence ministers in February that the alliance was considering keeping a residual force of 8,000 to 12,000 troops after 2014.
The Obama administration has been discussing keeping 3,000 to 9,000 US troops as part of this force.The Obama administration has been discussing keeping 3,000 to 9,000 US troops as part of this force.
Even if the Loya Jirga approves the BSA, it will still have to be passed by the Afghan parliament.Even if the Loya Jirga approves the BSA, it will still have to be passed by the Afghan parliament.
The Taliban branded the meeting a US-designed plot, and vowed to pursue and punish its delegates as traitors if they approve it.The Taliban branded the meeting a US-designed plot, and vowed to pursue and punish its delegates as traitors if they approve it.