KABUL - The Cooperation Council of Political Parties and Coalitions of Afghanistan (CCPPCA) while at a gathering on Sunday announced that the Jirga proposed by President Karzai to review the Afghan-U.S. Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) is unconstitutional. The CCPPCA added that the issue of the Jirga has created controversies and been a divisive force for Afghan politics.

The gathering was attended by several coalition political parties for them to discuss their ideas about the security transition and upcoming elections. President Karzai previously stated that he would continue to delay BSA talks with the U.S. until he could discuss the transition at the Jirga.

Last week, numerous political parties raised doubts about the credibility of the Jirga, suggesting that it was simply a way for President Karzai to pursue his personal goals at the cost of national interest. Members of the Right and Justice Party (RJP), the National Coalition Party (NCP), and the Afghan Millat Party (AMP) accused President Karzai of having ulterior motives in delaying Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) talks with the US in order to discuss them at the Jirga. According to the parties, President Karzai hopes to delay BSA talks with the Jirga in order to bargain with Washington for selfish motives under the pretext of "national interest."

Asim, a member of the National Coalition Party (NCP), said, "The Jirga does not have any legal sanctity. Jirgas are unconstitutional and the NCP strongly supports the BSA."

"The CCPPCA believes that the government is making unconstitutional decisions which have no legitimacy," said Pashtoonwal, the head of the Afghan Millat Party (AMP)

"The country will be in trouble if the BSA is not signed and the U.S. pulls back its troops completely post-2014. This will lead to a civil war in the country. Considering the weaknesses of the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF), I can clearly state that the country would once again become unstable," said Ahmad Zia Masood, the leader of the National Front Party (NFP)

The CCPPCA warned that it would seek legal recourse if President Karzai attempted to stay in power longer than his term limit would allow. (Tolo News)