AFGHANISTAN, US AGREE SECURITY DEAL THROUGH ’2024 AND BEYOND’

Kabul, 17 Muharram 1435/22 November 2013 (MINA) – The US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that the Washington and Kabul have reached a deal on the final draft of the bilateral security agreement between the two nations.

Kerry said the agreement was reached with the Afghanistan following a telephone conversation with the Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

He said, its up to the people of Afghanistan to pass the final draft of the bilateral security agreement. Khamaa Press quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Friday (22/11).

The traditional grand council (Loya Jirga) formally kicked off on Thursday with over 3,000 people, mainly the influential tribal elders attending the national meeting to debate the draft of the bilateral security agreement.

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The security agreement will into effect from January 1, 2015, if the deal was approved, and will last until the end of 2024, which will be possibly extended for years to come.

Kerry also rejected a US apology for operations that resulted in civilians casualties and said the issue was not discussed during his conversation with president Hamid Karzai.

United States will continue to funding Afghan security forces through the Afghan government, and shall have the exclusive right to discipline and its members for alleged acts committed on Afghan soil, according to a copy of the deal posted online Wednesday by the Afghan government.(T/P012/P04)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)