Kabul: A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday rejected a call by the United States to sign a security pact by the end of the year rather than after next year's presidential election.
"We do not recognise any deadline from the U.S. side. They have set other deadlines also, so this is nothing new to us," said Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for Karzai, as Afghan tribal elders considered the pact for a second day.
Karzai had suggested on Thursday, as the Afghan leaders began a meeting known as a Loya Jirga,that the signing of the pact to let U.S. troops remain in the country after 2014 should wait until after the poll. Having served two terms, he is ineligible to run again.
In response, a White House spokesman later said President Barack Obama wanted the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) signed by the end of the year. Obama would decide about the further U.S. presence after Afghan authorities approved the deal, he added.
Faizi also said any decision by Karzai to endorse the plan depended strictly on the recommendation of the Loya Jirga.
"It is absolutely up to the Jirga to decide about the BSA. The president very clearly said good security, peace and good elections are the key to the signing of this document," Faizi said.
"We do not recognise any deadline from the U.S. side. They have set other deadlines also, so this is nothing new to us," said Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for Karzai, as Afghan tribal elders considered the pact for a second day.
Karzai had suggested on Thursday, as the Afghan leaders began a meeting known as a Loya Jirga,that the signing of the pact to let U.S. troops remain in the country after 2014 should wait until after the poll. Having served two terms, he is ineligible to run again.
Faizi also said any decision by Karzai to endorse the plan depended strictly on the recommendation of the Loya Jirga.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2013
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Approves Sale Of 600 Patriot Missiles To Germany US Delegation Led By Top Diplomat Richard Verma To Visit India Tomorrow Relationship With India Remains One Of Great Importance: Pentagon Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Mpox Outbreak Could Soon Turn Into The Next Global Pandemic. Know More Deadly Mpox Variant On The Rise; Sweden, Pakistan Confirm 1st Cases "Failure Of State Machinery": High Court On Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.