Faizi: Afghan government face pressure from US about BSA

KABUL: (MEP) – Officials in the presidential palace of Afghanistan said that certain elements of the Afghan government are facing pressure from United States to accept the BSA.

Aimal Faizi, spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, in an emailed statement to Reuters said, “There is no doubt that certain elements within the Afghan government are facing pressure from the U.S. However, this will not achieve anything.”

Faizi further added, “If there is a perception in Washington that certain elements in Kabul can force President Karzai to succumb to any pressure, it is seriously flawed and mistaken.”

“We cannot allow business as usual for the U.S. after the signing of the BSA,” Faizi said. “It simply cannot be another ten-year chapter of raids on Afghan homes, civilian casualties and seeking peace in Afghanistan,” Faizi said while pointing towards President Hamid Karzai’s demands at the conclusion of consultative Loya Jirga.

The draft of the bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington was approved by majority in the consultative Loya Jirga last month; however President Hamid Karzai set demands for the signing of the security pact, khaama reported.

In the meantime, a top US senator in a letter to President Barack Obama suggested that the Washington should wait until a new Afghan leader is elected to sign the agreement.

The suggestion by influential US Democratic Senator Carl Levin, followed after recent visits by high level US officials to Afghanistan to convince President Hamid Karzai to sign the security deal, however President Hamid Karzai remained committed to his demands to sign the agreement.