Immunity for US troops to be negotiated
2013-01-14 13:59
Kabul - A decision on immunity for US troops staying in
Afghanistan after the 2014 planned withdrawal, will be made by the end of the
year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday.
"The issue of immunity is under discussion [and] it
is going to take eight to nine months before we reach agreement," Karzai
told a news conference in the capital, Kabul, after returning from meetings
with US President Barack Obama in Washington.
The Afghan government rejected an initial US proposal
regarding the question of immunity and a second round of negotiations will take
place this year in Kabul, he said.
Those negotiations could involve Afghanistan's Loya
Jirga, a "grand assembly" of political and community leaders convened
for issues of national importance, he added.
When asked if security would deteriorate in Afghanistan
after the withdrawal of the Nato-led force, Karzai replied: "By no
means... Afghanistan will be more secure and a better place."
The Obama administration has been considering a residual
force of between 3 000 and 9 000 troops in Afghanistan to conduct
counter-terrorism operations while providing training and assistance for Afghan
forces.
But the administration said last week it did not rule out
a complete withdrawal after 2014.
America is insisting on immunity from prosecution for any
US troops that remain.
