The US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that the
complete US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 is
a ‘Real Possibility’, if the bilateral security agreement between
Kabul and Washington is not signed.
Hagel said that the potential total pullut from Afghanistan
now rests in the hands of Afghan president Hamid Karzai.
“It’s a very real possibility because if we don’t have a bilateral
security agreement, which I have noted, that means we can’t
protect our forces which would be here after 2014,” Hagel told
CBS News State Department Correspondent Margaret Brenna on
Sunday’s “Face the Nation.”
He also added, “No international partners will come. Afghanistan
essentially will be alone. But we have no other option.” In response
to a question regarding Washington’s miscalculation in thinking Karzai
could be a partner, Hagel said, the U.S. was “surprised” by Karzai’s
refusal to sign the agreement.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai refused to sign the bilateral security
agreement with Washington despite the pact was appoved by majority
in the consultative Loya Jirga last month.
President Karzai set conditions for the signing of the pact with Washington,
and demanded an immediate halt to US trops operations on Afghan homes
and practical steps to start peace talks with the Taliban group.
However, Hagel said that Washington still views president Hamid Karzai as a
partner to United States.
Total US pullout from Afghanistan a ‘Real Possibility’, says Hagel - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency
complete US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 is
a ‘Real Possibility’, if the bilateral security agreement between
Kabul and Washington is not signed.
Hagel said that the potential total pullut from Afghanistan
now rests in the hands of Afghan president Hamid Karzai.
“It’s a very real possibility because if we don’t have a bilateral
security agreement, which I have noted, that means we can’t
protect our forces which would be here after 2014,” Hagel told
CBS News State Department Correspondent Margaret Brenna on
Sunday’s “Face the Nation.”
He also added, “No international partners will come. Afghanistan
essentially will be alone. But we have no other option.” In response
to a question regarding Washington’s miscalculation in thinking Karzai
could be a partner, Hagel said, the U.S. was “surprised” by Karzai’s
refusal to sign the agreement.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai refused to sign the bilateral security
agreement with Washington despite the pact was appoved by majority
in the consultative Loya Jirga last month.
President Karzai set conditions for the signing of the pact with Washington,
and demanded an immediate halt to US trops operations on Afghan homes
and practical steps to start peace talks with the Taliban group.
However, Hagel said that Washington still views president Hamid Karzai as a
partner to United States.
Total US pullout from Afghanistan a ‘Real Possibility’, says Hagel - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan News Agency


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