NCA prefers parliament over Loya Jirga on BSA

KABUL (NCA), on Sunday asked the government to release more information to the nation on recent developments with regard to the security pact with the US.

Calling the Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and the US as important, NCA leader Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, also a presidential runner, urged the parliament to approve the document once sent to it for approval, saying a parliamentary approval would be more credible than its endorsement by the Loya Jirga.

After a marathon series of meetings, President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said they had agreed on some major issues pertaining to the much-delayed agreement but the issue of jurisdiction for American forces remains unresolved.

They told a joint press conference agreement reached on many contentious sovereignty issues and the safety of Afghan citizens at the hands of American and allied troops after 2014, when most foreign troops are leaving.

But Karzai said a Loya Jirga, a traditional grand assembly of tribal elders, was being convened within a month to make a final decision on the issue of jurisdiction for any crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

Kerry responded that any decision made by the Loya Jirga and Parliament would be respected, but if the jurisdiction issue was not resolved, there would be no agreement.

In a statement, Abdullah said they wanted to be clear on why the deal was delayed and what favour the incumbent government sought from the US in return for signing it.

The NCA statement called convening the consultative Loya Jirga to decide on the security agreement as an unconstitutional move, saying the party would not participate in the assembly.

“Keeping in view in the current situation, we believe the Parliament is the most credible institution to approve such an international agreement rather than calling a consultative forum,” the statement said.

mrh/ma