Afghans to decide on strategic cooperation with US: Karzai

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai said on Monday his government would finalise a draft US-Afghan strategic cooperation agreement in a couple of days.

After carefully studying the draft pact, Afghanistan had incorporated its demands and conditions in it, Karzai said while addressing a conference of district development councils in Kabul.

Although the government was empowered to seal the deal, Afghan people reserved the right to take a final decision in this regard, the president remarked.

On April 11, Karzai said he would convene the traditional Loya Jirga to discuss the proposed agreement and take a decision on it.

“Mindful of the advantages and disadvantages (of the deal), I will uphold the national interest. If you approve the agreement, the government would endorse your decision. Otherwise we would say sorry to Americans,” Karzai remarked.

As he asked the conference participants how many of them backed strategic cooperation with America, many rejected the idea.

myn/mud

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