Amid tight security Afghan tribal elders are Kabul to attend the Loya Jirga to debate a key post-2014 security pact.

If the general assembly agree
15,000 foreign military personal may remain in the country after the main body withdraws next year.

However, in Afghanistan there is a deep mistrust of the Americans.

President Hamid Karzai addressed the gathering:

“My trust in America is not good. I don’t trust them and they don’t trust me. During the past 10 years I have argued with them regarding the security of our people and the way they enter and search our people’s houses and they have worked against me.
In any decision you take here should consider the future generation’s prosperity and decide based on Afghanistan’s national interest.
At the same time we should have our independence, which is our dignity.”