US and Afghanistan reach security deal

A bilateral security deal has been reached between the US and Afghanistan after lengthy talks in Kabul. However disagreements remain over the immunity for US soldiers who stay in Afghanistan Nato's withdrawal in 2014.

Afghan President Karzai explained how through the signed agreement the US will refrain from military operations in Afghanistan without prior consent of the authorities. The agreement also discusses the number of US troops remaining in Afghanistan after the foreign military forces pull out. None the less no agreement has been reached over jurisdictional issues over crimes committed by US forces that will remain in the country in 2014. An Afghan grand council of elders and then parliament will be debating the issue prior to proposals being forwarded to the US. However US Secretary of State John Kerry argued if this issue is not resolved there would be no agreement allowing US troops to stay behind.

The agreement followed two days of discussions after Kerry extending his stay in an attempt to reach consensus on the jurisdiction issue and US counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan. The lack of a security deal could impact non-military aid.

Meanwhile a US military operation led to the capture of senior Pakistani Taliban commander Latif Mehsud. The man was captured in eastern Afghanistan following what is claimed to be a mooted prisoner-swap deal.  Foreign news agencies reported that Mehsud was being recruited by Kabul as a mediator for peace talks with Taliban forces. Mehsud was recently appointed right-hand man to Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud.