KABUL - There is no guarantee that Afghanistan and the United States would reach a consensus on strategic partnership agreement between the two nations, Chief of Afghan National Security Council said on Saturday. The Chief of National Security Council, Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul were called over by the House of Representatives to update parliamentarians on the ongoing talks about a strategic agreement between Afghanistan and the US.

Mr Spanta told lawmakers that Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama are still discussing the strategic agreement through video conferences.
Legalization of US presence in Afghanistan is one of the top issues emphasized by the Afghan government, Spanta said.
The government also insists that all inmates in US-controlled prisons should be handed over to the Afghan government and there should be assurance that Afghan security forces will be financially supported and equipped before the strategic agreement is signed, he said.

Mr Spanta said the United States is suggesting to have an enduring presence based on an invitation from Afghans, but Afghan government strongly opposes it because the US is staying in Afghanistan to help resolve security challenges.

Serious fight against terrorism and a stop on searches of houses of Afghans in an arbitrary manner are part of what the Afghan government suggests that should be considered in the deal, he said.
"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan believes that the deal should not be a statement, but a contract and agreement," Mr Spanta said.

He said one of the things that the Afghan government and the US have agreed upon is that the agreement will hold its validity until the end of 2024 and after that both nations should decide whether to extend or terminate it.