NATO Secretary General warns of security crisis in Afghanistan

KABUL: (MEP) – The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned of security crisis in Afghanistan in the absence of continued coalition forces in the country beyond 2014.

The remarks by Rasmussen was comes as the Afghan government and Washington have not been able to end the deadlock on the signing of the bilateral security agreement which will allow the presence of US troops in the country.

The bilateral security agreement once signed will also pave the way for the signing of a similar pact with the NATO member countries which will give a legal framework for the presence of NATO forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

While speaking during the BBC News night program, the NATO Secretary General warned that it would be difficult to maintain provision of funds to Afghan national security forces in the absence of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Rasmussen also expressed doubts regarding president Karzai’s intention to sign the bilateral security agreement with Washington, and said that the issue will be discussed with the new president of Afghanistan.

This comes as president Karzai has reiterated his demands for the signing of the bilateral security agreement and insist that Afghan peace talks should practically start and US forces must stop raids on Afghan homes.