Disputes threaten post-2014 US-Afghan pact: Kabul

Published October 2, 2013
Afghan President Hamid Karzai — Photo AP
Afghan President Hamid Karzai — Photo AP

KABUL: A planned deal to let US forces stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to fight Al Qaeda remnants is under threat because of disagreement over the Americans' right to conduct military operations, Kabul says.

President Hamid Karzai is now directly leading the talks after they ground to a halt despite US pressure to complete the security agreement by the end of this month, said Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi.

The US plans to pull out the bulk of its 57,000 troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but it has tentative plans to retain some bases and a smaller force of around 10,000 after that.

“The US wants the freedom to conduct military operations, night raids and house searches,” Faizi told reporters late Tuesday.

“According to them, there are 75 Al Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan, which is very strange as this agreement will be for 10 years to have the right to conduct military operations anywhere in the country.

“Unilaterally having the right to conduct military operations is in no way acceptable for Afghans.”

Faizi also said the two sides could not agree on how the bilateral security agreement (BSA) should define an attack on Afghanistan that would trigger US protection.

“We believe that when terrorists are sent to commit suicide attacks here, that is also aggression,” Faizi said.

“We are a strategic partner of the US and we must be protected against foreign aggression. For us and for the US, that's the conflicting point. We are not of the same opinion and we need clarity from the US side,” he said.

Karzai has repeatedly said he will not be rushed into signing the pact, and that it may not be finalised until after his successor is chosen in April elections.

“If signed by the current president, he will be definitely held accountable in the history of Afghanistan if things go wrong,” Faizi said.

On Monday US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel described the pact as “critically important” as the US and its Nato allies plan the drawdown that will see most foreign troops leave the country by December 2014.

“I hope we'll have that agreement by the end of October, because we just can't move without it,” Hagel said.

The collapse of a similar pact with Iraq in 2011 led to the US pulling all its troops out of the country.

Opinion

Editorial

A close watch
Updated 13 Oct, 2024

A close watch

Authorities will have to prove every six months that they are pursuing the IMF-mandated targets to secure the lender’s dollars and blessings.
Push and pull
13 Oct, 2024

Push and pull

MUCH remains at stake, but it is nonetheless reassuring that our politicians have returned to more parliamentary...
Rising rape
13 Oct, 2024

Rising rape

MISOGYNY is the bane of women’s lives across the globe as it robs them of autonomy over their bodies. This is...
Ghastly attack
Updated 12 Oct, 2024

Ghastly attack

Duki attack comes at a time when Pakistan’s foreign friends are looking to make major investments in the country, while SCO moot kicks off next week.
Saudi investments
12 Oct, 2024

Saudi investments

THE Saudi investment commitments to Islamabad seem to be taking tangible shape after months of uncertainty around...
Into the abyss
12 Oct, 2024

Into the abyss

THE Pakistan cricket team continues to set unwanted records. On Friday, Shan Masood’s men became the first team in...