‘Karzai reluctant to sign deal with US’
A senior Afghan official says President Hamid Karzai is reluctant to sign with the US a security deal that allows Washington to set up permanent military bases in the war-ravaged country beyond the 2014 deadline for withdrawal of foreign troops.
œIf signed by the current president, he will be definitely held accountable in the history of Afghanistan if things go wrong,” Karzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said during a press conference in Kabul.
The recent remarks by the Afghan president spokesman have once again dashed American hopes that a pact can be quickly finalized.
Faizi also told reporters that the US wants the freedom to conduct unpopular military operations, night raids and house searches across the war-ravaged country.
œUnilaterally having the right to conduct military operations is in no way acceptable for Afghans,” he added.
In May, President Karzai said his government was ready to let the US set up nine bases across Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.
However, the political parties have recently heaped scorn on the US-led forces for committing unforgivable crimes against Afghan women and children since invading the country in 2001.
The Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party and several other political factions have released a statement warning that things will get worse should the US sets up its bases in Afghanistan.
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, undermining public support for the Afghan war.
However, the Afghan government has recently sought explanation from Washington about the ongoing US-led controversial peace talks with the Taliban militants in Qatar. The Kabul government has also suspended strategic talks with Washington to discuss the nature of US presence after 2014.
JR/SS
Copyright: Press TV
Source: http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/karzai-reluctant-to-sign-deal-with-us/75356/
