KABUL, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Parliament on Sunday endorsed Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States and Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with NATO.
In an extra-ordinary session attended by 172 members of the house and broadcast live on a local television, both security agreements were approved with sound majority and only five lawmakers expressed their opposition.
Since the U.S. and NATO-led forces combat mission ends by the end of 2014, the agreements allow both the United States and NATO to keep limited number of troops, probably 12,000 beyond 2014 in Afghanistan to advise and train Afghan national security forces.
Advocating for ratifying the agreements, one lawmaker during the proceedings said that since Afghanistan is fighting Taliban, al-Qaida and like-minded terrorists, it needs long-term support from the United States and the international community.
A traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of tribal elders and notables was held in November 2013 and attended by some 2,500 people, and the assembly expressed support for the BSA and asked then President Hamid Karzai to sign it sooner than later, a demand denied by Karzai.
Karzai's successor President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, a day after his inauguration, inked the controversial agreement BSA.
After approval by the Lower House, both agreements are referred to Mushrano Jirga or Upper House for endorsement, an official with the lower house said.
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