Karzai told to 2,200 participants of the Loya Jirga that Afghanistan demands the US to stop night raids, disband “parallel institutions”, and respect the Afghanistan’s sovereignty and traditions.

“I told you about my conditions. The US should respect the sovereignty, stop night raids and shouldn’t detain Afghans. Who are they? They are detaining Afghans and also they shouldn’t have jails in Afghanistan. It is our country and our soil and our land and not theirs.”

Karzai said Afghanistan would be ready to allow the US forces to use the Afghan military installations because this would enrich the Afghan economy and also US forces would train the Afghan security forces.

US officials say rooting out the terrorism and bolstering the Afghan security forces and making them enable to defend their country needs the long-term presence of the US in the region and that is the reason why the US government is seeking “ Permanent military presence “ in Afghanistan.

Responding to the concerns of the neighbor countries about the long term presence of the US military in the region, Afghan President said that Afghanistan wont allow any foreign force to use the Afghan land against neighbor countries and the interests of Afghanistan requires this country to seek close ties and cooperation with the neighbors.

Afghans are debating about the US permanent presence in their country at the time that Afghanistan is preparing for the second phase of transition of responsibility from NATO forces to Afghan forces which paves the ground for the gradual exit of the US military from Afghanistan by the year 2014.  

Meanwhile, Afghans are skeptical about the long-term presence of US military in Afghanistan and believe that US wants to use Afghanistan for “any possible attacks against Iran or Pakistan”.

Afghan government announced 4 days of national holiday in the country and thousands of Afghan police, army and special units “armed from teeth to feet” are guarding the Loya Jirga place and blocked the main roads of Kabul city.