Friday, November 22, 2013

U.S. Gives Ultimatum To Afghanistan To Sign The Security Agreement

Members of the Afghan Loya Jirga attend a gathering in Kabul, Nov. 21, 2013. VOA

United States Gives Afghanistan Year-End Deadline For Crucial Security Deal -- Reuters

(Reuters) - President Hamid Karzai triggered uncertainty about a vital security pact with the United States on Thursday by saying it should not be signed until after Afghanistan's presidential election next April, prompting the White House to insist on a year-end deadline.

Karzai's surprise move, which came just a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the pact's language had been agreed upon, suddenly threw its future into question and seemed certain to reignite tensions with Washington.

The Afghan leader spoke to about 2,500 tribal elders and political leaders from across Afghanistan gathered in the capital for a Loya Jirga, or grand council, to debate whether to allow U.S. troops to stay after the planned 2014 drawdown of foreign forces.

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More News On The U.S. Giving An Ultimatum To Afghanistan To Sign The Security Agreement

US: Afghan pact should be signed by end of year -- Washington Post/AP
US warns Karzai to sign security pact -- Global Post/AFP
U.S. Wants Afghan Accord This Year to Plan Troop Presence -- Bloomberg
US Tells Karzai to Sign Security Pact Soon -- Voice of America
US and Afghanistan clash on timetable for security pact -- BBC

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