DHAKA: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told his countrymen that a vital security pact with the United States should not come into effect until after next year`s election and conceded there was little trust between the two countries.
But the US replied that it was "neither practical nor possible" to delay its signing beyond the end of 2013.
About 2,500 tribal elders and political leaders from all around Afghanistan gathered in the capital, Kabul, for a Loya Jirga, or grand council, on Thursday to debate whether to allow US troops to stay after the 2014 drawdown of foreign forces.
In a statement that has likely irritated the US, which is keen to clinch the deal as soon as possible, Karzai told the assembly any agreement on the status of US forces would have to wait until after a presidential election in April.
"This pact should be signed when the election has already taken place, properly and with dignity," Karzai, who cannot run in the 2014 vote under the constitution, said.
Without an accord US States says it could pull out all its troops at the end of 2014 and leave Afghan forces to fight the Taliban insurgency on their own.
"We believe that signing the BSA (Bilateral Security Agreement) sooner rather than later is essential to give Afghans certainty about their future before the upcoming elections, and enable the United States and other partners to plan for US presence after 2014," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in Washington after Karzai made his remarks, adding the US was seeking clarification.
A senior Afghan official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Reuters news agency that Karzai intended to leave the pact unsigned until he was sure the international community would not interfere in the election.
Karzai`s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, confirmed that, adding that the grand assembly and parliament also had to approve the pact.
My trust with America is not good. I don`t trust them and they don`t trust me.
He did not explain how Karzai intended to sign the document after a new president had been elected.
Karzai has told Washington that if both countries were unable to agree on the document, the issue could be taken up again after the next election. But the future of the agreement was thrown back into confusion following Karzai`s remarks.
Over the next four days delegates will debate the draft and decide whether they want US troops to stay. Karzai told the assembly he broadly supported the security pact but said there was little trust between him and US officials.
Source: Al-Jazeera
BDST: 1000 HRS, NOV 22, 2013
RS/GCP
