Karzai: U.S.-Afghan Security Pact Ready For Loya Jirga

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai says Afghan and U.S. negotiators have finished a draft of a security pact to be presented to the Loya Jirga, or Grand Council, next week. However, Karzai said on November 16 that there were still disagreements between Kabul and Washington over the final content of the document. Karzai told reporters that without the approval of the Loya Jirga, Afghanistan will likely refuse to sign the so-called Bilateral Security Agreement. The agreement would allow U.S. authorities to maintain legal jurisdiction over those U.S. troops who remain in Afghanistan after the 2014 drawdown of foreign forces. Thousands of prominent figures from across the country are expected to attend the Loya Jirga.