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Hamid Karzai urges Afghans to let US forces stay another decade Hamid Karzai urges Afghans to let US forces stay another decade
(about 4 hours later)
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has reluctantly urged his countrymen to let US forces stay on in the country for another decade, saying that although there is no trust between him and Washington, a small American military presence is the country's best hope of stability. The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has reluctantly urged his countrymen to let US forces stay on in the country for another decade, saying that although there is no trust between him and Washington, a small American military presence is Afghanistan's best hope of stability.
Addressing 2,500 delegates gathered for the Loya Jirga – the grand assembly – summoned to vote on a draft security pact between the two nations, Karzai urged the crowded hall to think of future generations when they decided whether to give the deal their seal of approval. But in a move likely to unnerve American officials who want their future role settled, Karzai told a grand assembly gathered to vote on a draft security pact between the two nations that even if they approve it, he might leave the deal to be signed by his successor as president next year.
"Where is the advantage in this agreement? Why should we sign it?" he asked the hand-picked group of men and women from around the country. "It gives us the opportunity to move from our current situation to a stable situation." It was not clear how serious he was about the mooted delay. A master of brinkmanship, the Afghan leader has used ultimatums to squeeze concessions from his western backers in the past, but has also smoothly stepped away from red lines when sensing defeat, including bowing earlier this year to a US demand that its troops be granted immunity from the Afghan judicial system.
But in an unexpected move likely to unnerve US officials who want their future role settled, he suggested the pact should only be signed by a new president due to be chosen in an election nearly six months away. Karzai cannot stand again, but the 11 candidates to replace him had prominent seats at the meeting. Addressing 2,500 delegates gathered from across Afghanistan for the loya jirga – a hybrid of tribal tradition and modern referendum – Karzai urged them to think of future generations.
The Bilateral Security Agreement paves the way for up to 15,000 foreign troops, more than half of them American, to stay on in nine bases across Afghanistan until 2024. "Where is the advantage in this agreement? Why should we sign it?" he asked a gathering where a mix of turbans and striped silk chapan jackets, pakool hats from the Panjshir valley and colourful headscarves showcased the country's diversity.
"It gives us the opportunity to move from our current situation to a stable situation," he said.
Karzai read out to delegates a letter he said came from the US president, Barack Obama, promising respect.
"We will continue to make every effort to respect the sanctity and dignity of Afghans, in their homes and in their daily lives, just as we do for our citizens," a copy shared by presidential aides read.
There was high drama in the runup to the opening, with the wording of the critical deal only pinned down hours before the crowd flooded into the purpose-built hall, thrown up a few years ago to replace a recycled Oktoberfest tent that hosted the first loya jirga after the Taliban's fall.
The bilateral security agreement paves the way for up to 15,000 foreign troops, more than half of them American, to stay on in nine bases across Afghanistan until 2024.
Nato combat forces will leave at the end of next year, and the new agreement is vital to ensuring Afghans get the funds and training they need to support a relatively weak military. The US troops will also use their bases to chase al-Qaida and linked groups along the Pakistani border.Nato combat forces will leave at the end of next year, and the new agreement is vital to ensuring Afghans get the funds and training they need to support a relatively weak military. The US troops will also use their bases to chase al-Qaida and linked groups along the Pakistani border.
The deal has been highly controversial, with the final wording only agreed between Washington and Kabul hours before the delegates took their seats. But the Loya Jirga is expected to be more political theatre than real test of the accord, as Karzai looks to spread the political risk of signing off on a long-term US presence. Although the loya Jjrga technically has a deciding vote on the future of the deal, the four-day meeting is expected to be more political theatre than a real test, as Karzai, with one eye on his legacy, seeks to spread the political risk of signing off on a long-term US presence.
"What comes out pretty clearly when you talk to people who are on the organising committee or ordinary delegates at this thing [is that] pretty much everyone is in favour of the Americans having a troop presence. Not absolutely everyone, but there is a surprising consensus," one western diplomat said. "If that's the overwhelming picture, then surely Karzai is going to get that through in some way." "What comes out pretty clearly when you talk to people who are on the organising committee or ordinary delegates [is that] pretty much everyone is in favour of the Americans having a troop presence. Not absolutely everyone, but there is a surprising consensus," one western diplomat said.
The last-minute discussions on the draft came after Karzai demanded an apology from the US for past mistakes by the military and an absolute ban on foreign troops going into Afghan homes, both of which the White House refused. "If that's the overwhelming picture, then surely Karzai is going to get that through in some way."
The elaborate choreography of Karzai's opening speech was briefly interrupted by a senator from western Afghanistan who accused him of selling out the country with a deal to allow US forces to enter Afghan homes in "exceptional circumstances" when their lives are at risk.
"Every situation is serious for them," said Belquis Roshan. "All those people who have been killed by American soldiers were exceptions."
She was escorted out of the room by security, and two later interruptions from the crowd were to praise the president, one with shouts of: "Long live Karzai!"
The question of whether foreign soldiers should be allowed to enter Afghan homes on military missions, considered a gross violation of privacy here, had been the cause of last-minute delays to the draft and was a main focus of Karzai's speech.
He had originally called for an absolute ban, unless the American government apologised for past mistakes, but eventually conceded to Washington's demands.
It may have been heartfelt, as Karzai has long been a staunch advocate of barring western soldiers from Afghan houses, but it was also politically astute before a conference at which delegates include the relatives of civilians killed by both the Taliban and Nato forces.It may have been heartfelt, as Karzai has long been a staunch advocate of barring western soldiers from Afghan houses, but it was also politically astute before a conference at which delegates include the relatives of civilians killed by both the Taliban and Nato forces.
The dispute gave him grounds to shift the focus of his speech away from the US demand that their troops have immunity from the Afghan judicial system, which is highly emotive, to the question of whether their troops can enter Afghan homes. The dispute shifted the focus of his speech away from the US requirement that their troops have immunity from the Afghan judicial system, which is highly emotive.
The Afghan president read out a letter he said came from the US president, Barack Obama, urging Afghans to vote for the deal, promising respect from his troops, and saying they would enter Afghan houses only in extreme circumstances when their own lives were at risk. The Afghan leader said he had canvassed major regional powers, including India, China and Russia, as well as the government of Pakistan and other neighbouring countries, and all of them except Iran had urged him to sign the security pact for the sake of Afghanistan's future.
"We will continue to make every effort to respect the sanctity and dignity of Afghans, in their homes and in their daily lives, just as we do for our citizens," the only section of the original English released by the president's aides read. The US embassy declined to comment on whether the letter was genuine or provide a transcript. He finished what is likely to be one of the key speeches of his career with a familiar political appeal, to delegates' concerns for their children. His own son, he said, had learned the words "ministry of defence" as a toddler, after the building near the palace came under attack.
Karzai said he had canvassed major powers, including India, China and Russia, as well as the government of Pakistan and leaders of other neighbouring countries, and all of them except Iran had urged him to sign the security pact for the sake of Afghanistan's future. "In what country is that normal?" he said. "It will be better for our future if we sign this agreement."
He finished what is likely to be one of the key speeches of his career with a familiar political appeal, to delegates' concerns for their children. His own son, he said, had learned the words "ministry of defence" aged only four, after the building near the palace came under attack.
"In what country is that normal?" he said. "So it will be better for our future if we sign this agreement."
• Mokhtar Amiri contributed reporting• Mokhtar Amiri contributed reporting
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