Afghan elders back U.S. security pact, but Karzai uncertain

[Yahoo! News - Latest]

View attachment 8222​

By Hamid Shalizi and Mirwais Harooni KABUL (Reuters) - An assembly of Afghan elders endorsed on Sunday a security deal to enable U.S. troops to operate in the country beyond next year, but President Hamid Karzai left the matter up in the air by refusing to say whether he would sign it into law. The gathering, known as the Loya Jirga, had been convened by the president to debate the pact. It voted in favor and advised Karzai to sign it promptly. But Karzai, in his final remarks to the four-day meeting, appeared to stand by his earlier position that he would not sign until after a presidential election due next April.

Continue reading...