No guarantee of America accepting jirga views: analysts

KABUL delegates as useful, said on Saturday there was no guarantee of the United States accepting the suggestions regarding the strategic partnership deal.

The traditional Loya Jirga on the pact with the US concluded on Saturday with the release of a 76-article declaration, recommending the creation of American bases in the country for a decade.

Endorsing the agreement with US was necessary for maintaining security and strengthening Afghanistan‘s economy, delegates at the four-day assembly said in the declaration, which underlined respect for the Afghan culture, traditions and religion.

Political commentator Mohammad Hassan Wolesmal told Pajhwok Afghan News the declaration was reflective of people’s aspirations. However, he took issue with the US decision not to share its terms and conditions with the participants.

“Right now, there is no guarantee of the Loya Jirga’s recommendations being accepted by the United States,” he believed, saying President Hamid Karzai had promised to share with them the American demands, as and when received.

Former defence minister, Shahnawaz Tanai, said the delegates should have insisted on continued economic cooperation from America. Since there was no pledge of non-interference from neighbouring countries, the strategic pact was needed, he added.

“Although Afghans will feel physiologically strong, the US bases will be a blot on the history of Afghanistan, which will be seen as a week country,” the defence analyst remarked.

Another political commentator, Mohammad Younus Fakoor, opined the jirga‘s recommendations were in line with President Karzai’s conditions for the agreement with the United States.

He thought American would not agree to the condition of working on the proposed bases under Afghanistan’s control. “US troops say they will not stop night raids, because they have been effective in fighting militants.”

Another demand of the jirga is American citizens who commit any crime on Afghan soil should not have impunity and be prosecuted in Afghanistan under the law of the land.

Although the delegates’ recommendations are non-binding, the declaration gives Karzai a chance to discuss it with the US government, according to Fakoor.

One of the participants, Habibullah Rafi, said they had been duped. The attendees offered proposals on the sensitive question; they would have no say in the final decision.

“The consultations are still incomplete, because we discussed only one side of the pact and had no information about US conditions for the accord,” he remarked.

In his concluding remarks to the elders, President Karzai said:  “Initially, I was concerned that you might be too soft or too harsh. But after listening to your recommendations, I have nothing more to add and I agree with every single piece of advice you give today.”

frm/mud

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