22/11/2013 09:48
Hamid Karzai urges Afghans to let US forces stay another decade
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has reluctantly urged his countrymen to let US forces stay on in the country for another decade, saying that although there is no trust between him and Washington, a small American military presence is Afghanistan's best hope of stability, the Guardian reported.
But Karzai told a grand assembly gathered to vote on a draft security pact between the two nations that even if they approve it, he might leave the deal to be signed by his successor as president next year. This is likely to unnerve American officials who want their future role settled.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Barack Obama wants the security pact approved and signed by Afghanistan's government by the end of this year. "We hope that they will move quickly to approve the text of that agreement," Earnest said. US defence secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters that Karzai's move "puts the United States in a very, very difficult position."
"Until we get that BSA (bilateral security agreement), we can't do any more than train and it really needs to be done by the end of this year," Hagel said.
It was not clear how serious Karzai was about a delay. A master of brinkmanship, the Afghan leader has used ultimatums to squeeze concessions from his western backers in the past, but has also smoothly stepped away from red lines when sensing defeat, including bowing this year to a US demand that its troops be granted immunity from the Afghan judicial system.
Addressing 2,500 delegates gathered from across Afghanistan for the loya jirga – a hybrid of tribal tradition and modern referendum – Karzai urged them to think of future generations.
"Where is the advantage in this agreement? Why should we sign it?" he asked a gathering where a mix of turbans and striped silk chapan coats, pakool hats from the Panjshir valley and colourful headscarves showcased the country's diversity. "It gives us the opportunity to move from our current situation to a stable situation," he said.
Karzai read out to delegates a letter he said came from Obama, promising respect. "We will continue to make every effort to respect the sanctity and dignity of Afghans, in their homes and in their daily lives, just as we do for our citizens," a copy shared by presidential aides read.