Almost a year ago US-Afghan governments were close to signing strategic pact. What happened?

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the High Peace Council, Mr. Abdul Hakim Mujahid said, he suspected the Taliban had intensified their insurgency in response to the prospect of the pact. “They want to put pressure on the world community and Afghan government,” he said.

USA and Afghanistan close to signing strategic pact
Khaama Press
August 20, 2011

According to reports, America and Afghanistan are close to signing a strategic pact which would allow thousands of United States troops to remain in the country until at least 2024.

The reports further added, the agreement would allow not only military trainers to stay to build up the Afghan army and police, but also American special forces soldiers and air power to remain.

This comes as the prospect of such a deal has already been met with anger among Afghanistan’s neighbours including, publicly, Iran and, privately, Pakistan.

Meanwhile, a senior member of Afghan Peace Council said, it also risks being rejected by the Taliban and derailing any attempt to coax them to the negotiating table.

On the other hand, withdrawal of American troops has already begun following an agreement to hand over security for the country to Kabul by the end of 2014.

Foreign forces withdrawal from Afghanistan has also caused tensions among Afghans, wary of being abandoned are keen to lock America into a longer partnership after the deadline. Many analysts also believe the American military would like to retain a presence close to Pakistan, Iran and China.

But both Afghan and American officials said that they hoped to sign the pact before the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan in December.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai agreed last week to escalate the negotiations and their national security advisers will meet in Washington in September.

Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Mr Karzai’s top security adviser quoted by The Daily Telegraph said, “remarkable progress” had been made. US officials have said they would be disappointed if a deal could not be reached by December and that the majority of small print had been agreed.

Dr. Spanta further added, a longer-term presence was crucial not only to build Afghan forces, but also to fight terrorism.

He said, “If the Americans provide us weapons and equipment, they need facilities to bring that equipment. If they train our police and soldiers, then those trainers will not be 10 or 20, they will be thousands.”

Dr. Spanta also said, “We know we will be confronted with international terrorists. 2014, is not the end of international terrorist networks and we have a common commitment to fight them. For this purpose also, the US needs facilities.”

Meanwhile, he predicted that Afghan forces would still need support from US fighter aircraft and helicopters. In the past, Washington officials have estimated a total of 25,000 troops may be needed.

Dr. Spanta said, “In the Afghan proposal we are talking about 10 years from 2014, but this is under discussion.”

He said, America would not be granted its own bases, and would be a guest on Afghan bases, he said. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s neighboring countries; Pakistan and Iran were also deeply opposed to the deal.

In reaction to permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, Andrey Avetisyan, Russian ambassador to Kabul, said: “Afghanistan needs many other things apart from the permanent military presence of some countries. It needs economic help and it needs peace. Military bases are not a tool for peace.

Andrey said, “I don’t understand why such bases are needed. If the job is done, if terrorism is defeated and peace and stability is brought back, then why would you need bases?

Andrey further added, “If the job is not done, then several thousand troops, even special forces, will not be able to do the job that 150,000 troops couldn’t do. It is not possible.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the High Peace Council, Mr. Abdul Hakim Mujahid said, he suspected the Taliban had intensified their insurgency in response to the prospect of the pact. “They want to put pressure on the world community and Afghan government,” he said.