[26 Nov 2013] Karzai says he will not back down from refusal to sign...
Tension between Kabul and Washington continues to build as Afghan President Hamid Karzai delays signing a security pact with the United States....
Tension between Kabul and Washington continues to build as Afghan President Hamid Karzai delays signing a security pact with the United States. Washington issues a new warning, while Karzai sets new conditions for the deal. The US says it will pull all troops out of Afghanistan if Karzai does not promptly sign the agreement. The warning came during a meeting between Karzai and U-S National Security Advisor Susan Rice. Washington has repeatedly said that it cannot wait until after the April election, with Rice now calling it quote-not viable. However, Karzai has said that he will not back down from his refusal to sign the pact and will leave the decision to his successor. He has asked the US for a guarantee that it will halt all military operations targeting civilian homes. Karzai\'s spokesman says he has also called for a clear commitment to starting the peace process before the crucial security pact is signed.
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[18 Nov 2013] Afghan official: Pres. Karzai rejects a provision of...
A senior Afghan official says President Hamid Karzai has rejected a provision of a security pact with the United States just days before the...
A senior Afghan official says President Hamid Karzai has rejected a provision of a security pact with the United States just days before the country\'s elders gather to debate it.
Media outlets have quoted the official as saying that Karzai has rejected the enter-and-search provision. The question of whether foreign troops will be allowed to search Afghan homes after their combat mission ends next year has long been a sticking point of the Kabul-Washington deal. The final draft will be discussed by the Loya Jirga, an assembly of tribal elders, later this week. Karzai has already announced that if the Loya Jirga does not approve the deal, it will not be signed. Last month, the United States and Afghanistan hammered out a draft deal that allows thousands of U-S troops to stay in the country beyond 2014.
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[25 Nov 2013] US security adviser Susan Rice to meet Karzai over...
U-S national security adviser Susan Rice is in Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai. The visit comes a day after the US-Afghan security...
U-S national security adviser Susan Rice is in Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai. The visit comes a day after the US-Afghan security pact was thrown into limbo after Karzai refused to sign it.
Karzai has told the assembly of tribal elders, known as the Loya Jirga, that the deal should not be signed until after presidential elections in April. The grand assembly had approved the bilateral agreement to keep US forces in the country after 2014. The US says a deal has to be agreed by the end of the year. But Karzai says Washington has to prove its good intentions by keeping its soldiers out of Afghan homes and promoting peace talks with the Taliban.
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[01 Dec 2013] Karzai: US cutting military supplies to force him to sign...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the US of refusing to provide his country with military supplies.
He has said in a statement that the...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the US of refusing to provide his country with military supplies.
He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the US. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of US troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 2014 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.
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[02 Dec 2013] Karzai: US cutting military supplies to force him to sign...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies.
He has said in a statement...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies.
He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the U-S. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of U-S troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 20-14 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.
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[02 Dec 2013] Karzai accused the US of refusing to provide his country...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies.
He has said in a statement...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused the U-S of refusing to provide his country with fuel and military supplies.
He has said in a statement that the move is aimed to put pressure on him to sign a controversial security pact with the U-S. Washington has denied the allegation, and repeated that, unless the deal is signed promptly, it could withdraw most of American forces from Afghanistan. Relations between Kabul and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks over President Karzai\'s refual to sign the security pact. The deal allows several thousands of U-S troops to remain in Afghanistan after a 20-14 pullout deadline for foreign forces. Karzai has set several conditions to sign the pact which has been approved by the country\'s grand council, Loya Jirga. These include a stop to raids on Afghan civilian homes, among others.
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[21 Nov 2013] Karzai says security pact with US should be signed next...
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he\'s willing to delay the signing of a deal with the US, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, or BSA....
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he\'s willing to delay the signing of a deal with the US, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, or BSA.
Karzai told Afghanistan\'s assembly of elders, called Loya Jirga, that the deal will not be signed by the president until after next year\'s presidential election. This, as the Jirga has met today to discuss the BSA. Under the pact, American troops would be allowed to remain in Afghanistan beyond a 2014 deadline. Kabul has agreed to US military operations under special circumstances and American troops\' immunity from prosecution in Afghanistan. But, ordinary Afghans are angry over raids by American and other foreign troops. And they have held protests against the security deal with the US.
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[24 Nov 2013] Karzai refuses to sign security deal with US approved by...
In Afghanistan, Loya Jirga-- or the grand assembly of tribal elders-- has approved a controversial security pact with the US. But the president has...
In Afghanistan, Loya Jirga-- or the grand assembly of tribal elders-- has approved a controversial security pact with the US. But the president has refused to sign it.
Karzai made the remarks in the final hours of Loya Jirga. He said to guarantee peace, a free and fair vote is needed and therefore Washington should not meddle in the April elections. Karzai also noted that Americans don\'t have the right to raid Aghans\' homes and if they do it once more, there will be no agreement. However, the US has praised Loya Jirga\'s decision and urged Karzai to sign the pact before the end of 2014. If signed, the agreement will allow thousands of US troops to stay in the country beyond 2014. It also gives them immunity from prosecution under Afghan law.
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[01 Dec 2013] Hekmatyar called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the...
The leader of Afghanistan\'s Islamic Party has called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the security pact with the United States.
Gulbuddin...
The leader of Afghanistan\'s Islamic Party has called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the security pact with the United States.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar says the so-called bilateral security agreement is not in the interest of Afghans and that Karzai should not sign it. The famous warlord has warned that the partnership deal will not end bloodshed in Afghanistan; on the contrary it will cause more troubles. The security deal paves the way for US military presence in the war-torn country beyond the 20-14 withdrawal of foreign forces. Many Afghans believe the pact is a threat to their country\'s sovereignty as it allows American soldiers to carry out unilateral operations while having legal immunity.
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[16 Dec 2013] US insists Karzai must sign security pact soon - English
The United States has insisted that Afghan President Hamid Karzai must sign a bilateral security deal on the future of US troops in the war-torn...
The United States has insisted that Afghan President Hamid Karzai must sign a bilateral security deal on the future of US troops in the war-torn country as soon as possible.
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[29 Nov 2013] Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatens to reject a...
The Afghan leader has once again threatened to reject a planned security pact with the U-S, if Washington continues its drone strikes in the...
The Afghan leader has once again threatened to reject a planned security pact with the U-S, if Washington continues its drone strikes in the country. Hamid Karzai\'s remarks come in the wake of a new assassination drone attack that killed an Afghan kid in Helmand province. Here\'s a report.
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[03 Jan 2014] A group of US lawmakers visit Kabul to pressure the Afghan...
After a meeting with Hamid Karzai in Kabul, a group of American senators, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, said they expect the agreement...
After a meeting with Hamid Karzai in Kabul, a group of American senators, including John McCain and Lindsay Graham, said they expect the agreement to be signed soon. They have also noted that such a failure would pose a threat to Afghanistan and the region. Karzai has so far delayed signing the accord with the United States. The Afghan president says he won\\\'t sign any agreement that allows continued raids on Afghan homes. Without a signed deal, all U-S and NATO forces would have to withdraw from Afghanistan. The U-S-led foreign forces are blamed for many civilian deaths in the country. The senators have also warned Karzai about the release of 88 Bagram prisoners in north Kabul. Afghanistan says it\\\'s found insufficient evidence to continue their detention. But, Washington says the prisoners pose a serious security threa
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[20 Feb 2014] NATO chief: Afghan president will not sign security deal...
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor....
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor.
Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the U-S. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.
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[20 Feb 2014] NATO chief: Afghan president will not sign security deal...
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor....
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Afghan President Hamid Karzai will likely leave the signing of a security pact with the US to his successor.
Rasmussen says he believes that Karzai will not sign the long-stalled pact until April\'s presidential election. The deal would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the withdrawal deadline of the end of 2014. Rasmussen has acknowledged that NATO expects a separate pact with Kabul which would be impossible without a deal with the US. Back in November, Karzai told an assembly of elders known as the Loya Jirga that he will not sign the deal until certain conditions are met. He\'s demanded that the US immediately stop its military operations on Afghan homes.
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[11 Aug 2014]
[11 Aug 2014] \"President Karzai refused to sign BSA over civilian deaths\" - English
[11 Aug 2014] \"President Karzai refused to sign BSA over civilian deaths\" - English
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[09 May 13] Afghan president confirms US demand for permanent bases -...
President Hamid Karzai for the first time has made public that the US wants to have permanent military presence in Afghanistan. He has also...
President Hamid Karzai for the first time has made public that the US wants to have permanent military presence in Afghanistan. He has also unveiled the number of bases the US is mulling over. Karzai wants to let the US have these bases but with some conditions. But on the streets, local Afghans are angry at the prospect of permanent US bases in their country. The say such bases will bring about more problems to Afghans, and that they no more trust foreign forces. It has now been 12 years of war since the US invaded Afghanistan, ostensibly to fight the Taliban and bring peace.
Fayez Khorshid, Press TV, Kabul
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[09 Dec 2013] The Debate - US-Afghan Security Pact - English
The US and Afghanistan are at loggerheads over a stalled security agreement that President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign despite increasing US...
The US and Afghanistan are at loggerheads over a stalled security agreement that President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign despite increasing US pressure. The deal would allow between 12,000 to 14,000 troops, mostly American, to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Under the pact, American forces would be able to enter Afghan homes as part of their operations and enjoy legal immunity, two of the most important sticking points. President Karzai suggests he\'s being bullied into signing an unfair pact.
Is Afghanistan best with or without this deal?
What would a permanent US stay in the country mean?
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[21 Oct 2013] Civilian deaths rising in Afghanistan - English
This little girl is another war victim. Aysha has been badly wounded by a US air strike. President Karzai paid her a visit in a military hospital....
This little girl is another war victim. Aysha has been badly wounded by a US air strike. President Karzai paid her a visit in a military hospital. Aysha lost her whole family when a US drone hit their home in eastern Kunar province.
The Afghan president complained to US Secretary of State here in Kabul about what happened to Ashya.
But drone attacks continue to target civilians. The US is not willing to stop them and its military men are very proud of their drones. They claim the air strikes target terrorists and there is no collateral damage. People here, however, find their claim funny asking themselves that how can a child---like-Ashya---be a terrorist?
Aysha does not know why her dad and mom were killed. But she knows who is responsible for their deaths. Drone war expanded here right when US President Barack Obama took office. Campaigning for the White House in 2008, Obama did say that he would embrace drones to go after what he named 9/11 terrorists. But it seems the wrong people have been targeted.
So it is mostly civilians who continue to remain vulnerable to drone attacks. Over 447 strikes were launched here last year, killing and wounding about 2,500 people. This year may prove to be even deadlier.
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[17 Nov 2013] The Debate - US Afghan Security Pact - English
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga...
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga or the assembly of elders must approve the security pact between Kabul and Washington. Many Afghan citizens want Washington to leave their country. The central issue for the assembly is the issue of immunity for American troops that will remain in the country after the withdrawal of its allies\' forces by the end of 2014. What will this do to Afghanistan? And why does the US want to stay in Afghanistan, when more and more Americans are dissatisfied with the deteriorating socio-economic conditions back home?
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