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January 14, 2013

Karzai: Afghanistan Rejects 1st U.S. Immunity Offer, Jirga to Decide 
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It is unclear how the sped-up timetable of formal control will change
operations on the ground as tens of thousands of U.S. troops will remain
in Afghanistan until the withdrawal deadline of late 2014 and possibly
even beyond. As in Iraq, a rejection of immunity for U.S. troops could
prevent a large troop presence after the withdrawal. After returning
from Washington earlier today, Afghan President Karzai said a jirga, or
grand assembly, will decide on U.S. immunity by the end of the year.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai: "The decision regarding immunity for
American soldiers in Afghanistan is a very important issue, which
condition of immunity they want from us. The government of Afghanistan
cannot make a decision on this. This decision should be referred to the
people of Afghanistan in a loya Jirga) to be asked whether immunity
should be given to the American soldiers or not. And if we give them
immunity, how and under which conditions."

According to Karzai, an initial U.S. proposal for immunity was rejected
and a second round of talks will be held this year in Kabul. In a
statement, the activist group Voices for Creative Non-Violence
criticized the U.S. role in Afghanistan, saying: "Over the past 10 years
of occupation, the United States could have assumed a responsibility to
help establish a sustainable economy and infrastructure. Instead ... the
U.S. forces will leave behind many millions of war-weary, exhausted and
economically desperate people."

 

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