US comfortable with language of BSA with Afghanistan

The US has said it is comfortable with the language of the bilateral security agreement (BSA) with Afghanistan, which is to seek approval from its tribal leaders over the pact that would determine the relationship between the two countries post 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry in his meeting with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday finalised the text of the BSA in its present format. The deal would keep some US forces in war-torn country after the withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of 2014.
The draft includes a US demand to retain jurisdiction over its troops who stay on in Afghanistan, giving them immunity from Afghan law. However, Karzai has said that a Loya Jirga, or an assembly of elders,leaders and other influential people, will consider the demand and decide whether to accept it.

"The text that will be presented to the loya jirga is what we left Afghanistan with. We are certainly comfortable with, and we'll see how their process proceeds," the State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki, yesterday said.
"We left Kabul on Saturday with an understanding with President Karzai as his intention to take the text as it currently stands, with language agreed with Secretary Kerry, to the Loya Jirga to seek support for the agreement. There's obviously a process that they will undergo," she said.
"We'll undergo our own technical review here, which will be happening on this end," Psaki said.

She said the US condemns the series of terrorist attack in Afghanistan including the assassination of the Logar province Governor, Arsala Jamal.
"We strongly condemn the murder of Logar provincial Governor Arsala Jamal and others at a mosque during yesterday morning's observation of Eid. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and the families of those killed and injured in the attack," Psaki said.
"An attack on a place of worship during one of the holiest times of the Islamic year is truly reprehensible. The Eid should be a time of celebration, reflection and peace. And we're happy to send that to you if you haven't seen that statement as well," Psaki said.