Islam Times - Afghan MPs approve controversial US, NATO deals

Islam Times - The Afghan parliament has approved the controversial Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the US, which allows foreign troops to remain in the country beyond 2014.

The parliament on Sunday also passed a separate troop deal with NATO during a special session.

Based on the agreements, the US and NATO could keep a total of 12,000 soldiers in Afghanistan next year for what they describe as supporting Afghan forces.

Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador to Kabul James Cunningham signed the long-delayed deal on September 30.

The signing of the security deal comes as former Afghan President Hamid Karzai had refused to ink the BSA, saying the terms of the agreement undermines Kabul’s authority in managing domestic security affairs.

Under the agreement, soldiers from Germany, Italy and other NATO member states will join the 9,800 remaining US soldiers.

The agreement grants immunity to US-led troops operating in the country. It also allows the US-led forces to carry out deadly overnight raids on Afghan homes, which has triggered widespread protests in Afghanistan.

The United States and its allies attacked Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains in the country, despite the presence of tens of thousands of foreign troops.