Obama pledge as Afghan pact debated US President Barack Obama writes a letter vowing to respect Afghanistan's sovereignty, as Afghan elders debate a crucial post-2014 security pact.

US President Barack Obama has
sent a letter to Afghanistan's
leader Hamid Karzai vowing to
respect his nation's sovereignty,
as Afghan elders debate a crucial
post-2014 security pact.
Mr Obama vows US forces will not
enter Afghan homes except for
"extraordinary circumstances" - a
key point of debate.
Mr Karzai urged the 2,000 elders
to back the deal, which could see
15,000 foreign troops remain after
2014.
But he said it would not be signed
until after elections next year.
The presidential polls will be held
in less than six months' time, and
Mr Karzai has served two terms
so cannot stand again.
His office could not confirm to the
BBC whether Mr Karzai - or his
successor - would sign the pact.
'Sanctity and dignity'
The BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul
says the issue of US raids on
Afghan homes has been a key
stumbling block in a deal that has
taken months to hammer out.
But a draft of the deal was
released by Kabul shortly before
the grand assembly of elders - or
Loya Jirga - started on Thursday.
Our correspondent says that in a
dramatic moment as he delivered
his speech to the meeting, Mr
Karzai produced the letter from Mr
Obama which gives an assurance
on US raids.
The letter reads : "US forces shall
not enter Afghan homes for the
purposes of military operations,
except under extraordinary
circumstances involving urgent
risk to life and limb of US
nationals.
"We will continue to make every
effort to respect the sanctity and
dignity of Afghans in their homes
and in their daily lives, just as we
do for our own citizens."
It continues: "The US commitment
to Afghanistan's independence,
territorial integrity, and national
unity, as enshrined in our
Strategic Partnership Agreement,
is enduring, as is our respect for
Afghan sovereignty."
The Loya Jirga can amend or
reject clauses in the agreement,
though its decisions are not
binding. The deal will also have to
be approved by parliament.
Mr Karzai's statement on the
timing of the signature of the
document appears to be a new
condition, our correspondent says.
The US had wanted the deal to be
agreed quickly.
Indeed Mr Obama's letter says:
"We look forward to concluding
this agreement promptly."
Hamid Karzai urged the gathering
to accept the deal
One protester said the deal was
selling out the country
The US would have to take into
account any amendments that are
put forward, and would still have
the option of pulling out
altogether.
Another key sticking point that Mr
Karzai appears to have conceded
concerns the jurisdiction for the
prosecution of US troops.
The US insistence on immunity
from Afghan prosecution for
troops has been central to
Washington's demands.
The failure to resolve a similar
legal issue in Iraq led to a total
withdrawal of US forces.
The US-Afghan draft says:
"Afghanistan authorises the United
States to hold trial in such cases,
or take other disciplinary action,
as appropriate, in the territory of
Afghanistan."
According to the draft, the deal
will remain in force "until the end
of 2024 and beyond".
Currently the multinational Nato
force is due to pull out of
Afghanistan from 2014.
Taliban rejection
Opening the four-day Loya Jirga,
President Karzai said the only
issue on the table was whether
the security agreement would be
signed.
A woman delegate shouted from
the floor that US troops had spilt
too much Afghan blood and
should be stopped.
Mr Karzai acknowledged there
were difficult issues involved but
advised delegates to accept the
agreement.
He said that a number of world
leaders - including from Russia,
China, and India - were backing
the deal, and that it would provide
the security Afghanistan needed,
as well as the foundation for
forces from other Nato countries
who were assisting Afghan troops.
But Mr Karzai also admitted there
was a lack of trust between him
and the Americans.
He said: "I don't trust them and
they don't trust me, the last 10
years has shown this to me. I
have had fights with them and
they have had propaganda against
me."
The Loya Jirga delegates will now
meet in smaller closed-door
groups to look at the deal in
detail.
Security is tight for the meeting
after a suicide bombing last
weekend near the huge tent where
it is being held.
The Taliban has branded the
meeting a US-designed plot, and
has vowed to pursue and punish
its delegates as traitors if they
approve the deal.
Prayers are said ahead of the
debate
Isaf commander General Joseph
Dunford attended the Loya Jirga
There was intense security outside
the gathering