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US seeking to dissolve Loya Jirga: Afghan analyst
US seeking to dissolve Loya Jirga: Afghan analyst | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
Submitted 12 hrs 52 mins ago
A senior Afghan analyst blasted the US efforts to postpone the Loya Jirga (traditional grand assembly) elections in the country, and said Washington fears that the Afghan legislators voice opposition to the endorsement of a security pact between their country and the US.
"The US is concerned that it cannot impose its aspirations on the Loya Jirga members and therefore it tries to postpone the Jirga elections to have more time for taking the preparatory steps in this regard," Head of Afghanistan's Research and Strategic Center Gholam Jilani Zowak told FNA.
Noting that the US is aware of the Loya Jirga's opposition to Washington's demands and conditions for a security pact with Afghanistan, he said based on the information he could obtain, the US and Afghan governments have not yet reached a final decision on the strategic pact and have abundant differences over its content.
The proposed agreement was jointly drafted over the course of many months by representatives of the US and Afghan governments. It is intended to update the current security agreement signed in 2005, and would outline the US military role in Afghanistan after 2014.
While Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stressed that any agreement with the US should receive the approval of Loya Jirga first, many members of the former Loya Jirga have already voiced strong opposition to a strategic deal with the US.
Earlier, a prominent Afghan analyst and politician had unveiled that the draft strategic agreement between Washington and Kabul allows the US to use Afghan soil for extraterritorial missions, and stressed that the deal doesn't serve the interests of Afghanistan.
"The draft includes capitulations and US operation outside Afghan borders," Seyfoldin Seyhoon, a member of Afghanistan's National United Front, told FNA in Kabul.
"Issues such as capitulation, US forces' freedom of action, detention of Afghan nationals and US troops' extraterritorial missions for chasing enemy combatants are among the US demands allowed by the draft agreement, "and the Afghan government has no right to prevent the aforementioned," Seyhoon added.
Meantime, Iran has repeatedly warned against possible plans for the establishment of permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, stressing that the bases would be a source of permanent insecurity from Iran's neighbor.
Loya Jirga may be postponed on foreign pressure
Frontier Post :: Afghanistan News :: Loya Jirga may be postponed on foreign pressure
Posted on November 13, 2011
KABUL (AIP/NNI): The long awaited traditional Loya Jirga scheduled to be held on Nov. 16 in Kabul to discuss proposed US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement and reconciliation with Taliban is likely to be postponed on fears that the jirga may reject the proposed pact.Well informed sources which mostly proved correct in the past, told Afghan Islamic Press Saturday that United States was not in favour of organizing the jirga at this stage.The Americans have received information that anti-US groups have lobbied effectively against the proposed US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement and that the pact would strongly be opposed, the sources said, adding several Afghan officials were also opposed to holding the jirga on Nov. 16.The sources continued that there is huge possibility that agenda for the jirga may be changed and agreement would not be discussed if the officials could not succeed in postponing this grand meeting of Afghan elders.The reports of postponing the jirga circulating at a time when people invited to the grand meeting have arrived in Kabul and technical work for the Jirga which is expected to be attended by over 2000 people has already started.The next 24 hours are considered to be very crucial. A few days ago, Taliban termed this traditional grand meeting as a “Slave Jirga” while a Taliban spokesman told Afghan Islamic Press that participants of the jirga would be considered as “national traitors”. Meanwhile, registration has commenced for the participants of the traditional Loya Jirga scheduled to be convened on Wednesday to discuss the pros and cons of a proposed strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and the US and peace mechanism, officials said.Afghan influential figures from across the country, Canada, Norway and Pakistan have reached Kabul to attend the four-day grand assembly at the tent of Loya Jirga in Polytechnic area of capital Kabul, spokeswoman for the preparatory commission of the Jirga, Safia Siddiqui, told Pajhwok Afghan News.Some former and all sitting members of Parliament, 30 percent members of provincial councils, representatives from civil society organisations, private sector, special people, religious scholars and other renowned figures would participate in the gathering to float their suggestions for the strategic relations with the US and setting up a mechanism for peace talks with the rebels, she said, adding the religious leaders and local representatives were introduced by relevant provincial councils.Up to 120 Afghan refugees in Pakistan, 80 in Iran and 30 others in US, Canada and some European countries would also be in attendance. The jirga, to be also attended by Cabinet ministers and foreign dignitaries as guests, will involve 2030 people — 18 percent of them women.The attendees were invited to Kabul four days ahead of the scheduled time in order to brief them on the objective behind the grand assembly.Beside discussions on the US-Afghanistan strategic cooperation agreement and peace mechanism, the participants would also discuss some other key issues, Siddiqui concluded.Head of moneychangers’ union at the Shahzada Money Market, Mohammad Amin Jan Khosti, who signed up for the Jirga, said he was elected by moneychangers and traders to attend the session. The Jirga is important as national issues would be discussed there, he added.The US had already submitted a draft of the strategic cooperation deal to Afghan government, who returned it back to the US with some amendments to it. Safeguarding Afghanistan’s national interests, an end to nighttime military operations, strict restrictions on international soldiers to avoid harming civilians and legalising their presence are some of the core conditions set by the government for signing the agreement.Additionally, the agreement should not create problems for other strategic covenants with other countries.Karzai said the draft agreement would be sent to Parliament for approval after being discussed by the jirga.
Afghan Analyst: US Seeking to Dissolve Loya Jirga
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Afghan analyst blasted the US efforts to postpone the Loya Jirga (traditional grand assembly) elections in the country, and said Washington fears that the Afghan legislators voice opposition to the endorsement of a security pact between their country and the US.
"The US is concerned that it cannot impose its aspirations on the Loya Jirga members and therefore it tries to postpone the Jirga elections to have more time for taking the preparatory steps in this regard," Head of Afghanistan's Research and Strategic Center Gholam Jilani Zowak told FNA on Saturday.
Noting that the US is aware of the Loya Jirga's opposition to Washington's demands and conditions for a security pact with Afghanistan, he said based on the information he could obtain, the US and Afghan governments have not yet reached a final decision on the strategic pact and have abundant differences over its content.
The proposed agreement was jointly drafted over the course of many months by representatives of the US and Afghan governments. It is intended to update the current security agreement signed in 2005, and would outline the US military role in Afghanistan after 2014.
While Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stressed that any agreement with the US should receive the approval of Loya Jirga first, many members of the former Loya Jirga have already voiced strong opposition to a strategic deal with the US.
Earlier, a prominent Afghan analyst and politician had unveiled that the draft strategic agreement between Washington and Kabul allows the US to use Afghan soil for extraterritorial missions, and stressed that the deal doesn't serve the interests of Afghanistan.
"The draft includes capitulations and US operation outside Afghan borders," Seyfoldin Seyhoon, a member of Afghanistan's National United Front, told FNA in Kabul.
"Issues such as capitulation, US forces' freedom of action, detention of Afghan nationals and US troops' extraterritorial missions for chasing enemy combatants are among the US demands allowed by the draft agreement, "and the Afghan government has no right to prevent the aforementioned," Seyhoon added.
Meantime, Iran has repeatedly warned against possible plans for the establishment of permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, stressing that the bases would be a source of permanent insecurity from Iran's neighbor.
US seeking to dissolve Loya Jirga: Afghan analyst | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
Submitted 12 hrs 52 mins ago
A senior Afghan analyst blasted the US efforts to postpone the Loya Jirga (traditional grand assembly) elections in the country, and said Washington fears that the Afghan legislators voice opposition to the endorsement of a security pact between their country and the US.
"The US is concerned that it cannot impose its aspirations on the Loya Jirga members and therefore it tries to postpone the Jirga elections to have more time for taking the preparatory steps in this regard," Head of Afghanistan's Research and Strategic Center Gholam Jilani Zowak told FNA.
Noting that the US is aware of the Loya Jirga's opposition to Washington's demands and conditions for a security pact with Afghanistan, he said based on the information he could obtain, the US and Afghan governments have not yet reached a final decision on the strategic pact and have abundant differences over its content.
The proposed agreement was jointly drafted over the course of many months by representatives of the US and Afghan governments. It is intended to update the current security agreement signed in 2005, and would outline the US military role in Afghanistan after 2014.
While Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stressed that any agreement with the US should receive the approval of Loya Jirga first, many members of the former Loya Jirga have already voiced strong opposition to a strategic deal with the US.
Earlier, a prominent Afghan analyst and politician had unveiled that the draft strategic agreement between Washington and Kabul allows the US to use Afghan soil for extraterritorial missions, and stressed that the deal doesn't serve the interests of Afghanistan.
"The draft includes capitulations and US operation outside Afghan borders," Seyfoldin Seyhoon, a member of Afghanistan's National United Front, told FNA in Kabul.
"Issues such as capitulation, US forces' freedom of action, detention of Afghan nationals and US troops' extraterritorial missions for chasing enemy combatants are among the US demands allowed by the draft agreement, "and the Afghan government has no right to prevent the aforementioned," Seyhoon added.
Meantime, Iran has repeatedly warned against possible plans for the establishment of permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, stressing that the bases would be a source of permanent insecurity from Iran's neighbor.
Loya Jirga may be postponed on foreign pressure
Frontier Post :: Afghanistan News :: Loya Jirga may be postponed on foreign pressure
Posted on November 13, 2011
KABUL (AIP/NNI): The long awaited traditional Loya Jirga scheduled to be held on Nov. 16 in Kabul to discuss proposed US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement and reconciliation with Taliban is likely to be postponed on fears that the jirga may reject the proposed pact.Well informed sources which mostly proved correct in the past, told Afghan Islamic Press Saturday that United States was not in favour of organizing the jirga at this stage.The Americans have received information that anti-US groups have lobbied effectively against the proposed US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement and that the pact would strongly be opposed, the sources said, adding several Afghan officials were also opposed to holding the jirga on Nov. 16.The sources continued that there is huge possibility that agenda for the jirga may be changed and agreement would not be discussed if the officials could not succeed in postponing this grand meeting of Afghan elders.The reports of postponing the jirga circulating at a time when people invited to the grand meeting have arrived in Kabul and technical work for the Jirga which is expected to be attended by over 2000 people has already started.The next 24 hours are considered to be very crucial. A few days ago, Taliban termed this traditional grand meeting as a “Slave Jirga” while a Taliban spokesman told Afghan Islamic Press that participants of the jirga would be considered as “national traitors”. Meanwhile, registration has commenced for the participants of the traditional Loya Jirga scheduled to be convened on Wednesday to discuss the pros and cons of a proposed strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and the US and peace mechanism, officials said.Afghan influential figures from across the country, Canada, Norway and Pakistan have reached Kabul to attend the four-day grand assembly at the tent of Loya Jirga in Polytechnic area of capital Kabul, spokeswoman for the preparatory commission of the Jirga, Safia Siddiqui, told Pajhwok Afghan News.Some former and all sitting members of Parliament, 30 percent members of provincial councils, representatives from civil society organisations, private sector, special people, religious scholars and other renowned figures would participate in the gathering to float their suggestions for the strategic relations with the US and setting up a mechanism for peace talks with the rebels, she said, adding the religious leaders and local representatives were introduced by relevant provincial councils.Up to 120 Afghan refugees in Pakistan, 80 in Iran and 30 others in US, Canada and some European countries would also be in attendance. The jirga, to be also attended by Cabinet ministers and foreign dignitaries as guests, will involve 2030 people — 18 percent of them women.The attendees were invited to Kabul four days ahead of the scheduled time in order to brief them on the objective behind the grand assembly.Beside discussions on the US-Afghanistan strategic cooperation agreement and peace mechanism, the participants would also discuss some other key issues, Siddiqui concluded.Head of moneychangers’ union at the Shahzada Money Market, Mohammad Amin Jan Khosti, who signed up for the Jirga, said he was elected by moneychangers and traders to attend the session. The Jirga is important as national issues would be discussed there, he added.The US had already submitted a draft of the strategic cooperation deal to Afghan government, who returned it back to the US with some amendments to it. Safeguarding Afghanistan’s national interests, an end to nighttime military operations, strict restrictions on international soldiers to avoid harming civilians and legalising their presence are some of the core conditions set by the government for signing the agreement.Additionally, the agreement should not create problems for other strategic covenants with other countries.Karzai said the draft agreement would be sent to Parliament for approval after being discussed by the jirga.
Afghan Analyst: US Seeking to Dissolve Loya Jirga
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Afghan analyst blasted the US efforts to postpone the Loya Jirga (traditional grand assembly) elections in the country, and said Washington fears that the Afghan legislators voice opposition to the endorsement of a security pact between their country and the US.
"The US is concerned that it cannot impose its aspirations on the Loya Jirga members and therefore it tries to postpone the Jirga elections to have more time for taking the preparatory steps in this regard," Head of Afghanistan's Research and Strategic Center Gholam Jilani Zowak told FNA on Saturday.
Noting that the US is aware of the Loya Jirga's opposition to Washington's demands and conditions for a security pact with Afghanistan, he said based on the information he could obtain, the US and Afghan governments have not yet reached a final decision on the strategic pact and have abundant differences over its content.
The proposed agreement was jointly drafted over the course of many months by representatives of the US and Afghan governments. It is intended to update the current security agreement signed in 2005, and would outline the US military role in Afghanistan after 2014.
While Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stressed that any agreement with the US should receive the approval of Loya Jirga first, many members of the former Loya Jirga have already voiced strong opposition to a strategic deal with the US.
Earlier, a prominent Afghan analyst and politician had unveiled that the draft strategic agreement between Washington and Kabul allows the US to use Afghan soil for extraterritorial missions, and stressed that the deal doesn't serve the interests of Afghanistan.
"The draft includes capitulations and US operation outside Afghan borders," Seyfoldin Seyhoon, a member of Afghanistan's National United Front, told FNA in Kabul.
"Issues such as capitulation, US forces' freedom of action, detention of Afghan nationals and US troops' extraterritorial missions for chasing enemy combatants are among the US demands allowed by the draft agreement, "and the Afghan government has no right to prevent the aforementioned," Seyhoon added.
Meantime, Iran has repeatedly warned against possible plans for the establishment of permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, stressing that the bases would be a source of permanent insecurity from Iran's neighbor.
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