No reason for deferring accord: Mujaddedi

KABUL and United States should be signed before the presidential vote.

As the 50 jirga committees embarked on their proceedings, Mujaddedi told journalists that President Hamid Karzai did not reserve the right to postpone inking of the security deal. There was no reason for any delay, as all demands of Afghanistan had been met by the US, he argued. 

In his speech to the inaugural session of the forum on Thursday, Karzai had said he would not sign the BSA even it was approved by the Loya Jirga and ratified by the parliament until the elections were held transparently and mistakes of past polls avoided.

On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Karzai all American soldiers would be withdrawn from Afghanistan next year if the security agreement was not signed by the end of 2013. 

Around 2,500 people’s representatives, tribal chieftains, religious scholars, MPs, women groups, the Kuchi tribe, traders and rights activists are attending the grand assembly.  

They are discussing the text, according to an official of the preparatory commission, who said members’ suggestions would be noted by committee heads until 8pm before being presented to the jirga chairman on Sunday before noon.

Mujaddedi said proceedings of the committees were going forward well. He acknowledged some minor differences, saying there were no major disputes over the deal.

mm/mud

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