Civil Society: Presidential Candidates Must Take Stand on BSA

KABUL: (MEP) – Afghan civil society activists on Saturday urged all Presidential candidates running in the spring election to publicize their stances on signing the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).

Although the official campaign period doesn’t begin until February, Presidential hopefuls have been called to weigh in on the issue that has gripped Afghanistan for the past few weeks.

Last Sunday, President Hamid Karzai turned down the recommendation of the Loya Jirga to sign the BSA promptly and said he would not do so until after the spring elections, and only then, if the U.S. meets his preconditions, tolo news reported.

Since then, experts and officials from both Afghanistan and the U.S. have poured in criticisms, admonishments and entreaties over the accord and its tenuous state.

The BSA would ensure a continued military partnership between Kabul and Washington after the NATO combat mission ends in 2014, including a residual troop presence and major financial support.

The Afghan Civil Society Forum on Saturday said staying silent on such a critical matter would be dangerous for future of the country.

The Executive Director of the Forum, Aziz Rafee, said some Presidential candidates have not clarified their positions on the BSA yet, while others have. He said he believes that those who have remained neutral are clearly supported by the Karzai administration.

“The candidates should announce their positions soon about the BSA, and the candidates who do not are supported by the current government,” Rafee said.

Around half of Presidential hopefuls – Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Qayoum Karzai, Zalmai Rasoul, Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf and Sardar Mohammad Nader Naeem – have not yet commented about the signing of the BSA.

“The candidates should have a clear position,” civil society activist Ajmal Balochzada said. “Being silent would be dangerous and if the aid stops or foreign forces withdraw, this would not be good for the future of Afghanistan.”

U.S. officials have demanded the agreement be signed before the end of the year, which Karzai has rebuffed.

If the accord isn’t penned, Washington and its NATO allies have indicated no foreign troops would remain post-2014 and some 4.1 billion USD in military aid would be frozen.