Body formed to ensure Loya Jirga security

KABUL on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Kabul and Washington, the Presidential Palace said on Wednesday.

Headed by Deputy Interior Minister Lt Gen Mohammad Ayub Salangi, the committee had been tasked with ensuring security for the consultative forum, Karzai’s office said in a statement.

Members of the committee are administrative affairs expert Mohammad Aslam Massoud, National Directorate of Security (NDS) Deputy Director Massoud Andarabi, Ministry of Defence official Afzal Aman, Public Protection Force officer Syed Asadullah Mashkoori and Abdul Ahmad.

The committee would oversee security arrangements and report its activities to the Presidential Palace, the statement said, two days after Karzai told reporters the grand assembly would be called in a month’s time to discuss the agreement.

Negotiations on the security pact between the two countries began a year ago, with the Obama administration saying in mid-September the deal could be clinched during the current month.

But Karzai, who said on September 17 that his government was in no rush for wrapping up the agreement, told reporters in Kabul on Monday the two sides had reached some understanding but several sticking points were yet to be addressed.

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