Afghanistan-USA near to complete two-sided security contract

KABUL: (MEP) – According to final reports, Afghan and U.S. officials have nearly got to an agreement to decide the bilateral security agreement which spells out the attendance of American troops in Afghanistan past 2014, khaama reported.

The two sides have “resolved most issues” and that the agreement will allow for “a limited U.S. counterterrorism force and military advisers,” USA Today reported.

A senior State Department official familiar with the negotiations said, “We’re at the point now where we concluded the text.”

The official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, “We’re in a period of endgame.”

The USA Today has reported that the Afghan leaders have now agreed to allow the U.S. to “maintain legal jurisdiction over its troops in Afghanistan,” a sticking point Washington previously said is non-negotiable.

Assisting the Afghan security forces and building a counterterrorism force to fight al Qaeda and related groups have also been stated in the agreement. However, it is yet not clear if the final agreement receive approval from Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

U.S. officials quoted in USA Today report said that State Department could not make such guarantees in the present agreement, but has been working with Afghan officials to quell any possible objections.

Reports over bilateral security agreement development comes after Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff visited Kabul earlier this month and urged to finalize the agreement by October this month.

Gen. told reporters that he believed Karzai and the U.S. would be able to come to an agreement before October 2013.

Dempsey following his meeting with Karzai said, “I can tell you with great candor and integrity that the conversation today with the president was very positive, and I left convinced that he is as committed as we are to moving ahead with this bilateral security agreement as soon as possible.”

Washington has not announced yet announced how many troops it plans to keep in the country.