Karzai says U.S. security pact could bring stability

(UPI) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave his support to a proposal that would see 15,000 foreign troops stay in Afghanistan past 2014 on Thursday. Karzai said he felt it was a chance to bring stability to Afghanistan.

Now, 2,500 delegates made up of Afghan elders must approve of the deal agreed upon by the U.S. and Karzai.

Should the troops stay, Karzai maintained that not all would be American. Other NATO countries and some "Muslim nations" would also be involved, he said.

A similar deal between Iraq and the U.S. failed in 2011 when Iraq said U.S. soldiers would be held accountable to local courts.