Afghan grand council to vote next month on security pact with U.S.

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A gathering of some 3,000 officials and tribal elders will meet next month to decide the fate of a security pact with the United States, Afghan officials say.

Sadiq Mudabir, a member of the organizing committee, said the council, or loya jirga, will meet Nov. 19-21, Khaama Press reported Saturday.

The meeting could last a week if necessary to finalize the agreement, he said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said a week ago that Afghanistan and the United States had agreed to a number of provisions in the bilateral security pact.

Still unresolved is whether U.S. troops remaining in the country past 2014 will be given immunity.