KABUL-
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday conditioned his signing of a bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the United States with a launch of a peace dialogue with Taliban insurgents by US, and Pakistan.
Speaking at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai said that “no pressure, no threats and no psychological war” will force him to sign a deal allowing foreign forces to remain in Afghanistan after a planned withdrawal at the end of this 2014.
“If they want to leave, then they go and we will continue our lives… Our main condition is the practical start of peace process,” Karzai told reporters.
If the BSA is signed, about 10,000 U.S. troops as well as about 6,000 from allied nations would be staying in Afghanistan at the end of this year For mentoring the nascent Afghan security forces numbering 350,000.
Karzai has previously refused to signing the pact until April 5’s presidential elections.
U.S. has said it will pull all its forces out of Afghanistan if the deal falls through.
– AGENCIES