US revises troop exit plan from Afghanistan

WASHINGTON-

The United States military has revised plans for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in order to wait until President Hamid Karzai leaves office and a new president is appointed to sign a security pact that allows US troops’ presence on Afghan soil post-2014, officials have said.

The decision to wait until Karzai leaves clearly reflect a growing belief in Washington that there is little to no chance of restoring ties with the Afghan President to get him to sign the bilateral security agreement (BSA) before the presidential election due in April.

“If he’s not going to be part of the solution, we have to have a way to get past him,” said a senior U.S. official.

“It’s a pragmatic recognition that clearly Karzai may not sign the BSA and that he doesn’t represent the voice of the Afghan people,” he added.

The BSA calls for keeping 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 at a limited number of bases.

Military commanders say the force is needed to provide a stabilizing presence after this year’s election.

Military officials also believe a limited advisory mission will help maintain progress Afghan security forces made in recent years.

Karzai refused to sign the security pact, saying his successor should make the decision.

The White House has said Mr. Karzai’s refusal has raised prospects that President Barack Obama will order a complete U.S. troop withdrawal this year.