Amidst a whirlwind of commentary and speculation in the lead up to next week's Loya Jirga in Kabul, President Hamid Karzai held a press conference on Saturday to address a number of concerns that have arisen around the event.
Many have criticized Karzai's decision to hold the Loya Jirga and defer judgment on the critical Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that will determine the extent of U.S. involvement in Afghan security affairs after the NATO coalition withdraws in 2014.
In addition to those claims that the decision was unnecessary or even illegal, most recently, some have suggested Karzai may have ulterior motives in convening the Jirga.
On Saturday, the Afghan President confronted those suspicions head on.
"Leading up to the Jirga, there have been rumors that I have intentions to change the constitution and things like 'he is planning to change the elections date,'" Karzai said. "This Jirga will prove that it will only be for the discussion of the BSA with the United States and no other subject will be discussed."
One of the chief concerns critics of Karzai's decision to hold the Jirga have had is regarding the qualifications of the roughly 3,000 Afghan leaders gathered for the event in evaluating and deliberating over the complicated and legalistic security pact. And the fact that no minimal education level is being required of participants only lends credence to those concerns
In what appeared to be an indirect response to those concerns, Karzai on Saturday reminded Jirga participants to diligently review the agreement before casting judgment.
"All the materials of BSA between Afghanistan and the United States need to be closely studied with the national interests and benefit of Afghanistan in mind. Parts where they think we haven't secured something or things we have forgotten should be added," he said.
According to the organizing commission of the Jirga, hundreds of "facilitators" including legal experts and civil society activists will spend the entire first day of the event, November 21, explaining the BSA to the participants. President Karzai said on Saturday that the agreement was in the midst of being translated into Dari and Pashto.
He reemphasized that the power of the Jirga came from its representativeness, convening 17 categories of citizens from across Afghan society. Public figures, religious authorities and community leaders are all expected to participate.
"Whatever decision that the Jirga makes, it is from the nation of Afghanistan, representing our cities and villages, and their decision is respected by every one of us," Karzai said.
However, those remarks are not likely to assuage worries some have expressed that the Jirga, which is intended to only be advisory, will serve as de facto lawmaker.
Technically, the BSA is supposed to be passed through the regular legislative process, with both houses of the National Assembly approving it and then Karzai signing it. But some have suggested whatever the Jirga says goes, despite organizers' assurances that the gathering will not undermine the authority of Parliament.
What is expected to be the linchpin issue under debate at the Jirga is that of criminal jurisdiction over U.S. troops staying behind in Afghanistan post-2014. U.S. officials have indicated that the entire agreement could be tossed if Afghan officials do not agree to concede jurisdiction over American troops, as the U.S. Constitution requires.
Another critical issue in the agreement that was previously unsettled was the definition of the term "agression," in the context of Afghan national security and the U.S.' role in safeguarding it. However, Karzai said on Saturday that matter had been put to rest with U.S. diplomats and was resolved in favor of Afghan interests.
At the press conference on Saturday the President asked the Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami to take part in the Jirga.
Both anti-government groups have said even considering signing an agreement that would prolong U.S. involvement in Afghan affairs would be a crime against the country. The Taliban even threatened the lives of participants who vote in favor of the BSA.
Opposition to the event has already gone beyond rhetoric; a suicide car bomber drove into a checkpoint outside the Jirga grounds on the Kabul Polytechnic University's campus Saturday evening. Six were reported killed and at least 22 injured.