U.S. troops could stay in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Afghan tribal leaders have given President Hamid Karzai approval to negotiate a partnership with the United States, possibly keeping troops in place after 2014.

Foreign troops are slated to leave Afghanistan in 2014, but the proposed 10-year strategic pact could allow U.S. troops to remain under conditions set forth by a loya jirga, an Afghan traditional assembly, in Kabul, the BBC reported.

Delegates to the four-day assembly demanded an end to night raids, hated by Afghan citizens but seen as necessary by the U.S. military.

"We want our national sovereignty, and an end to night raids and to the detention of our countrymen," Karzai said Thursday, CNN reported. "America is powerful, has more money, but we are lions here. Lions have the habit of not liking strangers getting into their house."

Additionally, detainees must be placed in Afghan custody and U.S. nationals must be held to account for crimes committed in Afghanistan, the delegates said.

The assembly also agreed to engage with Taliban members in peace talks.