An International Security Assistance Force soldier stands guard near a C-130 transport aircraft at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. Afghanistan took delivery on Wednesday of two C-130 transport aircraft from the United States, part of an effort to give the country’s military the ability to better fight insurgents around the country. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (The Associated Press)
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan official says preparations are underway for a meeting of elders next month that will advise the president on whether to sign a long-troubled security deal with the United States.
Ministry of Interior spokesman Sediq Sediqi said on Thursday that security services are taking all the required measures for the Loya Jirga, or council of Afghan elders.
President Hamid Karzai called the meeting to discuss the state of the agreement after negotiations stumbled despite one year of talks. The U.S. wants a deal in October.
Karzai has ruled out signing the U.S.-Afghan deal until disagreements over sovereignty issues are resolved, but it remains doubtful any agreement will have been reached in a month's time.
If no deal is signed, the U.S. will keep no military forces here after 2014.
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