KABUL - The government planned to ensure elections security by focusing on improving the situation in insecure provinces, the Presidential Palace said on Sunday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Hamid Karzai. The participants noted public security concern ahead of the April ballot.

A statement from the palace said the NSC denounced the overnight killing of two aides to presidential runners in western Herat province. The president directed security organs to detain the killers and avoid a repeat of such incidents.

The Interior Ministry, in an effort to protect presidential candidates and their running mates, has provided three armored vehicles and 35 policemen to each contender.

National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta briefed the participants on progress in talks with NATO on the alliance future mission in Afghanistan, the statement added.

The meeting decided the negotiations with NATO representatives on the status of forces agreement should be finalized as soon as possible and the national interest fully protected. (Pajhwok)