No rush to sign security deal with US, says Afghan president

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his government is in no rush to sign with the United States a security deal that allows Washington to set up permanent military bases in the war-ravaged country beyond the 2014 withdrawal deadline.

President Karzai told a conference in Kabul on Tuesday that the deal could be signed by his successor after next April’s election for a new head of state.

The remarks by the Afghan president have once again dashed American hopes that a pact can be quickly finalized.

In May, President Karzai said his government was ready to let the US set up nine bases across Afghanistan after most foreign troops withdraw in 2014.

However, the Afghan government has recently sought explanation from Washington about the ongoing US-led controversial peace talks with the Taliban militants in Qatar. The Kabul government has also suspended strategic talks with Washington to discuss the nature of US presence after beyond 2014.

President Karzai has announced that his government will not join any US negotiations with the Taliban unless the talks are led by the Afghans.

The Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party and several other political factions have recently released a statement warning that things will get worse should the US sets up its bases in Afghanistan.

The parties also heaped scorn on the US-led forces for committing unforgivable crimes against Afghan women and children since invading the country in 2001.

Thousands of Afghan civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed during night raids by foreign forces and CIA-run assassination drone strikes.

The increasing number of casualties in Afghanistan has caused widespread anger against the US and other NATO member states, undermining public support for the Afghan war.

Civilian casualties have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and US-led foreign forces, and have dramatically increased anti-US sentiments in Afghanistan.