Afghan president calls on US to reframe security pact
Iran Press TV
Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:14PM GMT
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has urged the United States to reconsider its stance on the controversial Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Washington and Kabul.
Karzai reiterated that the Afghan nation cannot approve an agreement without guarantees that the US will halt its deadly airstrikes on residential areas.
The Afghan leader made the remarks in an interview with Indian media.
Karzai is on a three-day visit to India and has met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
The Afghan president also stated that Kabul wants Washington to help broker peace with Taliban militants.
The remarks come amid a standoff between the US and Afghan leaders over the security agreement.
Also on Friday, President Karzai said he won't be bullied into signing a security pact with the US.
He has refused to sign the so-called Bilateral Security Agreement, saying the US military must first halt its night raids. The US has been pressuring Karzai to sign the pact but the Afghan president says the matter should be left to the next government after April elections.
The planned security pact which has been approved by Afghan tribal elders allows the US to keep some of its troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
Washington says if Karzai doesn't sign the deal before the year's end, the US-led forces must leave Afghanistan completely.
Afghan political groups have warned that things will get worse should the US set up permanent military bases in Afghanistan.
Afghan political figures have also heaped scorn on the US-led forces for committing unforgivable crimes against Afghan women and children since invading the country in 2001.
Thousands of Afghan civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed during night raids by foreign forces and CIA-run killer drone strikes.
JR/SS
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