Wolesi Jirga to debate BSA next week

KABUL speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi on Wednesday ruled the lower house would debate the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States next week.

The key security deal was signed between Kabul and Washington on Oct 30, a day after President Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated. The deal allows thousands of American troops to stay on in Afghanistan to train Afghan security forces after 2014.

The BSA and a status of forces agreement (SOFA) signed with NATO were brought to the lower house for ratification as required by the Constitution.

Speaker Ibrahimi said the government had twice requested the assembly to discuss the BSA, currently being debated by the house’s Committee on International Affairs.

Ibrahimi said heads of the house panels had decided to present the accord to the house for a debate on Wednesday next.

A lawmaker, wishing anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News some MPs seeking the pact’s approval had collected 50 signatures from colleagues.

The two accords will allow nearly 10,000 American and NATO troops to continue training and advising Afghan security forces post-2014, when the combat mission ends.

Today’s session also discussed the deteriorating security situation in much of the country and the delay in introduction of Cabinet nominees to the house for approval.

Shukria Paikan from Kabul said the government should send the Cabinet nominees to the assembly for a vote of confidence without further delay. She said insecurity had crossed all limits and the government was required to take solid steps in this regard.

Naqibullah from eastern Laghman province said suicide and bomb attacks in Kabul and provinces had lately increased and essential measures should be taken to contain insecurity.

“Every day innocent people, police and army personnel are being killed, but they would not introduce the Cabinet, they have waged a war for power. I urge the president and the chief executive officer not to keep the masses on waiting anymore, introduce the Cabinet and save the country from heading to a new crisis.,”

Ibrahimi also urged the government on behalf of the Wolesi Jirga to introduce the ministers-designate for a vote of confidence as soon as possible.

He said acting ministers and governors were one of the factors fueling insecurity in the country because they did not work with responsibility.

“After some time we are entering a new year, the acting ministers have nothing to do with budget preparation and the country can confront many problems next year.”

The speaker also criticised Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz for his statement that Pakistan was not going to target militants posing no threat to the neighbouring country.

“The people of Afghanistan have still doubts about the independence of Pakistan. Leaders of that country have been trying to interfere into Afghanistan’s affairs through irresponsible statements.”

However, the Foreign Office in Islamabad had clarified that Aziz had been taken out of context and he had made the statement in a historic background.

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