Karzai, U.S. Delegation Discuss Afghan Security Agreement, Prisoner Release

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused so far to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement negotiated between Kabul and Washington late last year.

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation has called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a security treaty with the United States and asked him to review Afghanistan's position on the release of prisoners considered a security threat by Washington.

Karzai received the delegation led by Senator Kelly Ayotte (Republican-New Hampshire) on March 22.

Karzai has refused so far to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that was negotiated between Kabul and Washington late last year.

The deal would regulate the keeping of international forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

A presidential statement said that on March 22 Karzai "reiterated that the long-standing position of the Afghan people towards the BSA remains unchanged."

Regarding the release last month by the Afghan authorities of 65 detainees considered a threat by the U.S. military, the statement said Karzai "reaffirmed that the releases are conducted on the decision by the relevant judicial and security entities."