Afghanistan is planning an assembly in Kabul next month to discuss the strategic partnership with the United States and peace talks with the Taliban insurgents, officials said Tuesday.
More than 1,000 tribal elders, politicians, civil society leaders and activists are expected to participate in the November 16 meeting, a palace official who requested anonymity said, DPA reported.
"The traditional Loya Jirga is according to the Afghan constitution to discuss and decide on matters of utter national importance," he said.
Afghanistan is in negotiations with the US regarding cooperation after 2014 when NATO and US troops are set to end combat operations.
The treaty will discuss aid money, military cooperation and the activities that the US would be allowed to perform in the country, the palace official said.
"The two countries are discussing what our security relationship will be like, what our development relationship will be like," US embassy spokesman Gavin Sundwall said.
In February, President Hamid Karzai said the US was seeking to establish permanent bases in Afghanistan to target al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the region. Aides and US officials later corrected his version, saying it was a long-term military presence that could last until 25 years.
Political activists on Monday protested in Kabul against any such agreement that would allow the US to build the military bases.
Sundwall said the US is "not interested to establish permanent US military bases in Afghanistan."
The Loya Jirga is also expected to hold discussions on possible peace talks with the Taliban insurgents.
Peace seems elusive since the killing of Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president who was heading efforts to negotiate with the Taliban. He was killed last month by a suicide bomber.
The Taliban have said denied any possibility for talks unless the Western forces - currently at a strength of about 130,000 - leave the country.
...