US defense secretary visits Afghanistan amid deal row

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is on a surprise visit to Afghanistan as Washington is frustrated over Afghan president’s refusal to sign a bilateral security deal.

Pentagon spokesman, Carl Woog, said Hagel is traveling to Afghanistan to thank troops for their service fighting far away from home.

The visit comes amid a stand-off between the US and Afghan leaders over a security agreement.

US officials say Hagel is not expected to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai.

However, Afghan president’s spokesman says the two would meet later on Saturday. He says Afghan officials are prepared to discuss the sticking points over Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).

President Karzai still refuses to sign the deal despite increasing pressure from Western diplomatic and defense officials.

Karzai’s spokesman had recently accused the US of trying to force Kabul into signing a security deal with Washington, noting that his country will never bow to US pressure.

“There is no doubt that certain elements within the Afghan government are facing pressure from the US. However, this will not achieve anything,” Karzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said in a statement on Friday, adding, “If there is a perception in Washington that certain elements in Kabul can force President [Hamid] Karzai to succumb to any pressure, it is seriously flawed and mistaken.”

Karzai has said he won’t sign any agreement that allows continued foreign raids on Afghan homes. In addition, Karzai has accused the US of colluding with the Taliban militants.

With Karzai’s refusal, the US is trying to pressure Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi to sign the agreement. US officials say Hagel will meet his Afghan counterpart as well as Interior Minister Mohammad Omer Daudzai.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday said the bilateral pact could be signed by Afghan defense minister, effectively circumventing Karzai.

US President Barack Obama has rejected President Karzai’s suggestion to delay signing the deal. The US has repeatedly said it will not wait until after the April 2014 presidential vote to seal the agreement.

Washington says if Karzai doesn’t sign the deal before the year’s end, the US-led forces must leave Afghanistan completely.

The deal allows the US to keep thousands of its troops in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 withdrawal date for foreign troops.

Afghan activists say the security treaty between Washington and Kabul will pave the way for a prolonged US military presence in the war-ravaged country.

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