KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A grand council called by Afghanistan's president gave its approval Sunday to a new security pact with the United States.
The "Loya Jirga" approved the agreement by an overwhelming margin; however, President Hamid Karazi told the delegates he planned to continue negotiating for a better deal.
"On your behalf we will try to bargain more with the Americans and then we will sign this agreement," Karzai told the Jirga.
The Jirga's approval was non-binding, which technically allows Karazi to not sign the agreement if he so chooses, The New York Times said. And some of Karzai's aides told reporters the president intended to hold off on the signing until sometime after next year's Afghan presidential elections.
Karzai was expected to provide more details Sunday in his closing remarks to the Jirga.
A spokesman for Karzai told reporters Saturday the president was seeking greater restrictions on U.S. raids on private residences, American support for peace talks with the Taliban and pledges not to interfere with elections.
"We don't believe there's any zero option," spokesman Aimal Faizi said Saturday. "We believe if they have waited until now, they can wait five more months."
The move, however, irked U.S. negotiators, who wanted the deal signed and in place as early as possible so the military would have time to prepare for its mission under the agreement next year.
"He is negotiating in public," one Western diplomat told the Times.
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