Afghan council recommends approval of U.S. security deal

KABUL, Afghanistan — In a face-to-face rebuke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a grand council of Afghan dignitaries voted Sunday to recommend approval of a proposed 10year security agreement with the United States by the end of the year, agreeing to an American-imposed deadline.

The white- bearded chairman of the advisory council, or loya jirga, told Karzai he made a mistake by threatening a signing delay until spring. Chairman Sibghatullah Mojaddidi warned the president that if he delays signing, “I’ll resign and leave the country.”

“If he had listened to my advice, we wouldn’t have this problem today,” said Mojaddidi, 89, a former Afghan president and longtime confidant and mentor to Karzai.

But Karzai remained adamant that he, or his successor, will not sign the accord until after the Afghan presidential election in April. That stubborn stance has infuriated U.S. officials, who Friday imposed a Dec. 31 deadline.

Karzai asked the loya jirga, whose recommendations are not legally binding, for more time to negotiate. “We’ll try to bargain more with the Americans on your behalf” and then sign the agreement months later, he said.

He said he wanted to apply more political pressure so that Afghanistan doesn’t sign the agreement “for free,” or without American concessions. Providing few specifics, he also said he would not sign unless the U.S. takes a stronger role in Afghanistan’s moribund peace talks with the Taliban and promotes “transparency” in the April elections.

His voice rising, Karzai said he would never sign unless the U.S. military stops entering Afghan homes in search of insurgents.

“Starting today, the United States cannot raid Afghan homes. If they enter Afghan homes one more time, this agreement is over,” he said.

The Afghan president is notorious for ultimatums and delay tactics that seek to extract concessions and keep himself at the center of events. With his term ending in April, he is about to enter a lame-duck period — especially if he signs the accord soon.

The loya jirga’s defiance of Karzai presents an opportunity for the president to save face and back down from the brinkmanship that has put the security deal in jeopardy.

Mojaddidi assured Karzai: “If there is a problem in the future” with the pact, “the jirga is responsible.”

Karzai convened the loya jirga, an advisory but influential traditional body, to give himself political cover and deflect responsibility for a long-term commitment with the United States, according to many Afghan analysts.

He faces significant opposition from Afghan traditionalists, who condemn cooperation with foreigners.

The agreement must be approved by Afghanistan’s elected parliament. Karzai will decide when to present it to the legislature, which is expected to endorse it.