Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that his country wants sovereignty and end to night raids on Afghan homes as a pre-condition to the Kabul signing a strategic partnership with Washington.
Karzai was addressing on day one of the loya jirga on Wednesday, said that he wanted Afghan-US relations to be those of “two independent countries” and assured neighbours such as China and Russia that a long-term deal would not affect their ties with Afghanistan.
“If the US want military bases, we will allow them, it is in our benefit, money will come to us and our forces will be trained,” he said.
Washington insists it is not seeking a “permanent” military presence in Afghanistan, saying instead it is looking to help Afghan security forces with intelligence sharing, air power and logistics beyond 2014.
Those attending the jirga faced multiple security checks with presidential guards posted on the roof of the sturdy tent and police on maximum alert.
The Taliban said those supporting a long-term US presence in Afghanistan at the jirga would be considered “traitors” and “deserving of harsh penalties”.
Some of the elders taking part said they had received threatening text messages.
Karzai convened the four-day jirga to discuss a strategic partnership deal with the United States, currently under negotiation with Washington, which will govern Afghan-American relations after NATO combat forces leave in 2014.
Around 2,000 delegates gathered at the jirga in Kabul. “We want our relationship with America to be one of two independent countries.”
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