Karzai’s call for ‘Loya Jirga’ to discuss security pact draws disdain

Urges US to take action against Afghanistan’s ‘aggressive’ neighbours.

ISLAMABAD:

A proposal by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to convene a ‘Loya Jirga’ (grand assembly) to study, approve or reject the controversial security pact with the United States has sparked widespread criticism.

Karzai’s political opponents and lawmakers said parliament is the best forum to make a final decision on the pact that will allow the US to retain troops in post-Nato Afghanistan, beyond 2014.

Critics argued people selected by Karzai will be invited to partake in the traditional jirga. They also said the assembly will not be different from the previous one called to approve the strategic partnership agreement with the US.

They further suggested the security pact document be referred to the National Assembly since parliament has the right to make a decision on all such agreements.

The main opposition front, led by Dr Abdullah Abdullah, said there is no need for a jirga in the presence of parliament.



Opponents said Karzai, in his haste, floated the jirga suggestion this month after President Barrack Obama said the US could delay signing of the pact and would possibly sign it with Afghanistan’s new leadership.

The US had earlier warned that if the pact was not signed by the end of October, it would consider the ‘zero option’ on its military presence in Afghanistan. However, differences over certain issues have raised doubts about meeting this deadline.

“Considering the current situation, requirements and the country’s national interests, the contents of the agreement are much more important than a deadline,” Spokesperson for Afghan Foreign Ministry Janan Mosazai told Ariana TV.

Differences surfaced over the jirga issue at a time when the US and Kabul were unable to agree on a few key issues, despite making some headway on the draft since they started talks in November 2012. The two countries failed to agree on a specific definition for ‘aggression’, legal immunity of US forces and location of US military bases.

However, President Karzai said this month the document has reached its final stage and is ready to be presented to the jirga for a final decision. “We will convene a Loya Jirga within a month. The jirga will study all the provisions of the pact and Afghans can then make a decision,” Karzai said at a recent news conference in Kabul.

In a covert reference to Pakistan, Karzai asked the US to agree to his demand for taking action against “aggressive” neighbours. “You saw that the neighbour’s artillery rounds have hit Afghanistan, but what did the US do to help us? Kunar (province) is still under artillery attacks (from Pakistan), but what has the US done for us?,” he told reporters during the address.

A number of lawmakers have also criticised the government’s decision to convene a jirga on the security pact. Senator Abdul Hanan Haq Wayon said Karzai’s “selected individuals” are invited to such loya jirgas who make decisions in favour of US and Karzai.

Mistrust grows around US intentions to retain permanent bases after Nato forces withdraw. Karzai had earlier said US wants nine permanent bases beyond 2014.

The US has not clearly defined locations for its future bases. It is widely believed the security pact will trouble regional countries such as Iran, China and Russia since these countries have already expressed their concerns over the US quest for permanent bases in the region.

Najib Mahmud, a lecturer of law and political science, believes the president wants to obtain a privilege from the US to choose his successor.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2013.