Afghans Say U.S. Security Pact Threatened

Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi (file photo)

A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says disagreements are threatening a planned deal to let U.S. forces stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to fight Al-Qaeda.

Aimal Faizi said on October 1 that two issues could potentially threaten the planned U.S.-Afghan security pact. He said those were a U.S. wish to run unilateral counterterrorism operations after 2014 and a U.S. refusal to commit to a wide-ranging promise to protect Afghanistan from foreign aggression.

Most foreign troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

U.S. officials have said they want to conclude the U.S.-Afghan security pact by the end of this month. Negotiations have been going on since last November, but Karzai has repeatedly said he won't be rushed into signing an agreement.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP