Senate won’t hasten to ratify security deals

KABUL a priority, but the Senate chairman says they would not hasten to endorse the deals.

Afghanistan signed the much-delayed security deal with the US on Sept. 30 and a separate Status of Security Forces (SOFA) with NATO a day after the new government was inaugurated.

The deals were ratified by the Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament on Monday, a move praised by President Ashraf Ghani, who urged the Senate to follow the example.

Senate second deputy secretary Syed Azizullah Ulfat told today’s session that the government through a letter to the house had called for approval of the two accords ahead of the London Summit slated for December 4.

He said the government viewed the approval ahead of the London Summit as crucial for international assistance to Afghanistan.

But Senate Chairman Fazl Hadi Muslimyar said the upper house would not hasten to approve the security deals and they would do what favoured Afghanistan and its people.

“The Meshrano Jirga’s commission on international affairs should thoroughly study the agreements before sending them to the house for a decision. We should not be in a hurry,” the chairman said.

The accords had been sent to the lower house about two weeks ago for ratification as required under the country’s Constitution.

The deals allow about 10,000 American and NATO troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond this year to train and advice Afghan security forces and support them in counterinsurgency operations.

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