Afghanistan Political Leaders, Tribal Elders Debate Security Deal With US; Karzai Says “Trust With America Not Good,” Wants Agreement to Go Into Effect After Next Election

John
Kerry said the US and Afghanistan had
reached an agreement for a security partnership after the 2014
withdrawal of combat troops, pending approval at a grand council of
local leaders. At that meeting, the term-limited Hamid Karzai
suggested the deal with the US not go into effect until after next
year’s presidential election.

From Reuters:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told his countrymen on
Thursday a vital security pact with the United States should not
come into effect until after next year’s election and conceded
there was little trust between the two countries.

About 2,500 tribal elders and political leaders from all
around Afghanistan gathered in the capital, Kabul, for a
Loya Jirga, or grand council, to debate whether to allow U.S.
troops to stay after the 2014 drawdown of foreign
forces.

Karzai
told the council he didn’t trust the Americans, and that they
didn’t trust him. A delegation from Afghanistan, meanwhile, ha s

reportedly met in Pakistan with the former deputy leader of the
Taliban, according to anonymous officials from those two
countries.

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