Ghani hails deals approval

KABUL by the lower house of parliament, urging the upper house to follow suit.

The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States and a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) were signed on Sept 30, a day after the new government was inaugurated.

The two accords had been sent to the lower house of parliament for approval about two weeks ago for ratification as required under the country’s Constitution. The lower house on Sunday approved the security agreements by a majority vote.

President Ghani in a statement from the Presidential Palace welcomed approval of the agreements by the lower house and urged the Meshrano Jirga to endorse the pacts.

The statement said: “President Ghani regards the BSA with the US and SOFA with NATO as a key step towards strengthening the national sovereignty. The accords would allow Afghan forces to be in control of all security affairs and would strengthen and further equip them.”

The agreements allow about 10,000 American and NATO troops to stay on in Afghanistan after this year to train and assist Afghan security forces.

Under the BSA, American troops will be stationed in Parwan, Kabul, Balkh, Herat, Kandahar, Shindand, Paktia and Helmand provinces to train and equip Afghan forces.

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