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Karzai Spokesman Suggests U.S. Withdrawal Reports 'Pressure' Tactic

July 09, 2013

by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai's spokesman has dismissed a "New York Times" report claiming U.S. President Barack Obama is considering an expedited and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan as a tactic "aimed at putting pressure on Afghanistan."

Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan in Kabul, Aimal Faizi said that the "zero option" -- whereby there would be no U.S. troops left in Afghanistan after 2014 -- was never discussed with Kabul.

"The complete withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan is an issue that has never been brought up in joint meetings between Kabul and Washington," Faizi said. "The report in 'The New York Times' is aimed at putting pressure on Afghanistan and on public opinion in the country. We have already put our conditions to the United States and have clearly told the United States that a final decision regarding the [U.S.-Afghan] security agreement will be made by the people of Afghanistan, and that is through a national jirga," he said, in a reference to the national parliament.

"The New York Times" reported on July 8 that a June 27 video conference between Obama and Karzai aimed at lowering tensions "ended badly."

The report said Karzai accused Washington of putting his government in danger by holding a separate peace with the Taliban and its Pakistani supporters.

"The New York Times" added that since after the video conference, a complete pullout from Afghanistan like the one from Iraq has moved from a "worst-case scenario" to a likely choice "under serious consideration in Washington and Kabul."

When asked about the report, a senior unnamed U.S. official said that "all options remain on the table" but that the administration had so far made no decision.

Senior current and former Afghan officials, however, have said that despite the disagreements between Washington and Kabul, a precipitous U.S. withdrawal is unlikely.

Nasrullah Stanikzai, a former political aide to Karzai, said Kabul must pursue its own strategic and political interests in talks with Washington but tense relations between leaders of the two countries were not helping.

With reporting by "The New York Times"

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/karzai-withdraw-us-troops-reaction/25041231.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.