Security has been tight in the Afghan capital as tribal elders gathered to debate a crucial pact agreed in draft form between Kabul and Washington.<br /><br />The US is said to have got its way on several controversial issues concerning the conditions under which its troops may stay beyond 2014.<br /><br />Intense negotiations and wrangling between both governments preceded the meeting of up to 2,500 Afghan elders at the Loya Jirga.<br /><br />The accord’s implementation depends to a great extent on President Karzai.<br /><br />He told the assembly his relations with America were not good. “I don’t trust them and they don’t trust me,” he said.<br /><br />Recently he accused international forces of bringing only suffering to Afghanistan.<br /><br />But before the Loya Jirga he said the deal was of national importance, and he called the meeting to seek political support for it. <br /><br />The draft says US soldiers accused of offences in Afghanistan will be subject to US not Afghan justice. <br /><br />It says US forces “shall not target Afghan civilians, including in their homes”, wording seen as granting freedom to pursue militants.<br /><br />Without the accord, the American government has warned it may withdraw all its forces by the end of next year.
