NATO opens post-2014 talks with Afghanistan
Iran Press TV
Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:39PM GMT
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization says it has begun negotiations with Afghanistan over NATO’s military presence in the war-torn country beyond the 2014 withdrawal.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen broke the news, saying that the talks are held between Afghanistan’s National Security Advisor and NATO's civilian representative.
However, he added that there will be no deal until Kabul signs a similar pact with the United States.
"I welcome the start of these talks today...while stressing that the NATO Status of Forces Agreement will not be concluded or signed until the signature of the Bilateral Security Agreement between the Governments of Afghanistan and the United States," Rasmussen said in a statement on Saturday
The fate of the Bilateral Security Agreement between the two countries remains in limbo as President Hamid Karzai refuses to sign it.
The deal which has already received the approval of the assembly of Afghan elders, Loya Jirga, will keep the US forces in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 planned pull-out.
Karzai has warned that he will not allow continued foreign presence if it means more bombs and civilian killings.
Afghans also say American forces are responsible for the death of many civilians in their country.
Afghan political figures have also heaped scorn on 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 assassination drone strikes.
The increasing number of casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger against the US and other NATO member states.
JR/SS
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