Afghanistan suspends security pact talks with US amid Taliban peace process

Karzai blames inconsistent US strategy.


Reuters June 19, 2013
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a joint news conference following a security handover ceremony at a military academy outside Kabul. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has decided to suspend talks on a security pact with the United States, accusing Washington of mixed messages regarding peace talks with the Taliban, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

"In a special meeting chaired by President Hamid Karzai, the president has decided to suspend talks about a security pact with the US because of their inconsistent statements and actions in regard to the peace process," spokesman Aimal Faizi told Reuters.

Negotiations on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) began earlier this year and, if completed, will define the shape of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan for years to come.

In Iraq, a collapse in negotiations regarding a similar pact saw the US pull all troops out of the country. The US Embassy in Kabul said it was preparing a statement on the announcement.

COMMENTS (9)

florence | 10 years ago | Reply

@ezanius: you don't know that Americans are talibans. Can you explain me why all occidental army of the world were not able to finish talibans when commander Hamad Shah Massoud did it alone (more or less) ?

Linchpin | 10 years ago | Reply

The more things become clear in relation to Afghanistan the more I admire the way Pakistan has handled the situation. Massive pressure from the US to play along with the Karzai/US agenda in the start. Now the Americans have realized that they need to cut their losses and get out. Pakistan from the outset claimed: 1. Negotiations is the only way forward 2. America will want out leaving another mess which will have devastating effects on Pakistan 3. Prevent other forces from entering the arena (India, ,Iran, Russia) because this will just prolong the war. 4. Pakistan should resist being caught up in the debacle (only partly realized as it has cost tens of thousands of lives)

I think Pakistan has been proved right on most accounts. After all Pakistan has the largest Pushtun population in the world. Millions of Afghan refugees have taken refuge including Karzai, the Taliban, the Mujahideen leaders, and the opposition groups of the 60's and 70's. The presence of Afghans leaders over 30 years in Islamabad and Peshawar. A long border. The most important border for Afghanistan. So Pakistan has a very strong understanding of the situation in Afghanisatan and could predict most of the results we see today much more correctly than the so called international experts and academics.

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