Six Killed in Kabul Ahead of U.S. Security Pact Debate
A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car in west Kabul, killing at least six people near a compound where Afghan elders will debate a security pact with the U.S. next week, officials said.
Another 22 were injured when the vehicle blew up about 150 meters (yards) from the giant tent where some 2500 tribal elders and civil leaders will gather on Thursday to decide on the future of U.S. troops in the country after NATO coalition pulls out in 2014.
"Inital information shows that unfortunately four civilians, one police and one soldier have been killed in today's attack. Twenty-two more, the majority of whom are civilians, have been injured," spokesman for Afghan interior ministry Sediq Sediqqi told Agence France Presse, adding that the toll may rise.
A statement issued by the Afghan interior ministry said that the bomber was being pursued by security forces shortly before the explosion.
"The attacker driving a vehicle had been identified and was being pursued by security forces. He detonated himself after police opened fire on his vehicle," a statement issued by interior ministry said.
Nasrullah, a witness, said: "I heard a big bang near the jirga site, and later saw ambulances carrying bloodied people. I saw at least three wounded in army uniforms."
Earlier in the day, President Hamid Karzai had called on the Taliban and their allies to join the assembly, known as a 'Loya Jirga'.
"We invite them, please come to this national jirga of Afghanistan, raise your voice, raise your objection... and share your views," he told a news conference in Kabul.
The draft pact was hammered out in Kabul last month during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. But he left without a final deal as Afghan President Hamid Karzai said only a jirga had the authority to decide the contentious issues.
These include a U.S. demand to retain legal jurisdiction over its troops in Afghanistan, which would give them immunity from Afghan law. The request emerged as the main sticking point after Kerry's visit.
The Taliban, whose government was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, has rejected the jirga and warned members that they would be punished as "traitors" if they endorsed the deal.
Hezb-e-Islami, a Taliban affiliate, has also refused to send members to jirga, calling it "legalizing the U.S. occupation".
If the agreement is passed by both loya jirga and parliament, between 5,000 and 10,000 U.S. troops would stay in Afghanistan to help fight Al-Qaeda remnants and train the national army.
Washington had been pushing for the agreement to be signed by the end of October to allow the U.S.-led NATO coalition to plan the withdrawal of its 75,000 combat troops by December 2014.
The collapse of a similar security agreement with Iraq in 2011 led to the U.S. pulling all its troops out of the country, which is currently suffering its worst sectarian violence since 2008.
Source: Agence France Presse
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