Start peace process with Taliban for troop deal, Hamid Karzai tells Barack Obama

Kabul: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has stood firm on his demand that the US and Pakistan re-start the peace process with the Taliban for a post-2014 troop deal to be signed. The President was responding to a warning from US President Barack Obama that he was planning for a possible 'Zero-Option' which will have no American troops in Afghanistan after all coalition combat personnel are withdrawn by the end of the year.

The President's Office in Kabul told NDTV that Hamid Karzai spoke to Barack Obama for 45 minutes in a phone conversation. This is the first time the two leaders have spoken since June 25, 2013 and President Karzai stalled a post 2014 troop deal in November. Eight months ago they communicated in a secure video teleconference (SVTC pronounced sih'-vitz').

Karzai Palace to NDTV

The Palace played down President Obama's 'Zero-Option' warning saying it was a warm and friendly conversation. But, the Afghan President's Office said Hamid Karzai told his counterpart that though he supported the troop deal, peace and security was vital. President Karzai told Obama, "We want the peace process with the Taliban to be launched before the signing of the BSA (Bilateral Security Agreement)." That agreement would allow between 3-15,000 foreign troops to stay on in nine bases after the withdrawal of all combat personnel at the end of 2014. President Karzai also told President Obama that if the US and Pakistan didn't re-start reconciliation with the Taliban before the Presidential polls on April 5 - then the signing of the BSA would be left to the next Head of State. President Obama has for the first time told President Karzai the 'Zero-option' is on the table, but he also left the door open for the signing of the deal this year.

Obama briefed on Taliban talks

President Karzai's Office also told NDTV, the US President had been briefed about Afghan talks with the Taliban. The Palace told NDTV that was progressing well on two tracks - with the Quetta Shura (Council) and with former Taliban Finance Minister Aga Jan Motassim in Dubai. But, President Karzai also reiterated his belief that America and Pakistan can and should facilitate the peace process for the smooth signing of the troop deal before April this year.

Karzai plays hardball

In another significant development, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey arrived in Kabul hours after the phone conversation between the two leaders. But, with President Karzai adamant on his main condition that the peace process be re-started, it's unlikely that he will be able to prevail on President Karzai to make any compromise unless the US does what he is absolutely firm on. He had even in December told NDTV in his Palace in Kabul, 'Allies should not be waging psychological war against each other. If you are friends and allies, you should be treated as friends or allies. They need not attack us psychologically. They need not weaken our resolve. They need not portray us in such a manner that we are in such terrible need that if that they are not here, We are neither a nation, nor a country, nor a history, nor a culture nor a future. That's not right. We will be here whether the US is here or not. That's where we are. This is our country. But of course we may be in more trouble we may be poorer in certain ways. But Afghanistan can continue and will survive as it has for 1000s of years.'