Afghan assembly endorses talks on US troops

Associated Press

KABUL

President Hamid Karzai received a resounding endorsement Saturday from a traditional national assembly to negotiate a security agreement that could keep a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan past 2014, when most international forces are to have left.

The size of the force is subject to negotiations, but a future deal could keep thousands of American troops here for years.

The nonbinding resolution issued at the end of a loya jirga assembly also suggested some conditions for the talks between Afghan and American officials, including an end to unpopular night raids by military forces searching for insurgents.

The more than 2,000 people who attended the four-day meeting asked Karzai to ensure that the United States hands over all detainees to Afghan custody and limits any agreement to 10 years.

They also said the future pact must be approved by parliament.

“We will act on the basis of your consultation,” Karzai told the assembled delegates.