Afghanistan seeks assurances before signing security deal with US

Afghanistan is willing to sign the security agreement with the US but wants assurances on two issues, an Afghan official said here Wednesday evening after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. "We not only desire but support very strongly the signing of the bilateral security agreement with the US and it will be signed in good time," Jalal Mortazai, Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, told a news conference at NATO headquarters. "We are seeking assurances on two topics, one is the launch of a meaningful, substantive peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban," he clarified. "Second issue is the complete stop to any military operation against Afghan homes because Afghan homes do not threaten peace and stability in the region," he said. Afghan Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani and Interior Minister Omar Daudzai participated in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers with their counterparts from ISAF partners. Mortazai said the two ministers briefed the NATO foreign ministers on four main topics, progress of transition process in Afghanistan and the bilateral security agreement between the US and Afghanistan. The third topic was an official invitation extended from the Afghan government to NATO to initiate negotiations on a unified status of forces agreement for the new NATO train, assist and advice mission after 2014 . The fourth topic was the presidential and provincial council elections in April 2014 in Afghanistan